Flask vs Django – Difference Between Them

Key Difference between Flask and Django

• Flask provides support for APIs, while Django doesn’t have any support for APIs.
• Flask does not support dynamic HTML pages, and Django offers dynamic HTML pages.
• Flask is a Python web framework built for rapid development, whereas Django is built for easy and simple projects.
• Flask offers a diversified working style, while Django offers a monolithic working style.
• The URL dispatcher of the Flask web framework is a RESTful request; on the other hand, the URL dispatcher of the Django framework is based on controller-regex.
• Flask is a WSGI framework, while Django is a full-stack web framework.

Here, I have analyzed the difference between Flask and Django and will comprehensively evaluate their pros and cons.

What is Flask?

Flask is a microframework offering the basic features of a web app. This framework has no dependencies on external libraries. The framework offers extensions for form validation, object-relational mappers, open authentication systems, uploading mechanisms, and several other tools.

What is Django?

Django is a web development framework for Python. This framework offers a standard method for fast and effective website development. It helps you build and maintain quality web applications. It enables you to make the development process smooth and time-saving.

It is a high-level web framework that allows for rapid development. The primary goal of this web framework is to create complex database-driven websites.

Difference Between Flask and Django

Flask and Django are the two most popular Python frameworks. From what I’ve observed, here are some important differences between Django and Flask.

Attributes	Flask	Django
Launch Year	Created in 2010	Created in 2005
Framework Type	Flask is a WSGI framework.	Django is a Full Stack Web Framework.
API Support	Flask provides support for API.	Django doesn’t have any support for API.
Virtual Debugger	Support Visual Debug.	There is no support for Visual Debug.
Database Support	Flask allows you to use multiple types of databases.	Django doesn’t offer multiple types of databases.
Forms	Flask has no default support for forms, but you can use WTForms to fill the gap.	Django comes with a form that can be integrated with the ORM and the admin site.
Dynamic HTML	Flask does not offer dynamic HTML pages.	Django offers dynamic HTML pages.
Routing and Views	The request based object is imported from the flask module, which is a global variable in Flask.	All views are set as an individual parameter in the Django.
Flexibility	Flask is a much younger platform compared to Django.	Django is a very mature framework.
Working Style	Flask offers a diversified working style.	Django offers a monolithic working style.
Control	It supports an extension that could be implemented in the framework.	Django has its own module library. So, it stores several prewritten codes.
Structure	The structure of the project layout for the Flask web framework is random.	The structure of the project layout in Django is conventional.
Template Engine	Flask web framework uses a Jinja2 template design.	Django web framework helps you utilize the View web templating system.
URL Dispatcher	URL dispatcher of the Flask web framework is a RESTful request.	URL dispatcher of this Django framework is based on controller-regex.
Bootstrapping Tool	Flask does not offer a built-in bootstrapping tool.	Django-admin enables developers to start building web applications without any external input.
Project Layout	Flask framework is suitable for single applications.	Django framework allows developers to divide a project into multiple page applications.
Third-Party App Support	Flask Web Framework doesn’t offer support for third-party applications.	Django Web Framework supports a large number of third-party applications.
GitHub Stars	GitHub Flask stars 66.3k	GitHub Django stars 76.7k
Best Features	Best features of the flask are that it is lightweight, open source, and offers minimal coding for developing an application.	The best features of Django are rapid development, open source, a great community, and being easy to learn.
Companies Using	Famous companies using Flask are: Netflix, Reddit, Lyft, and MIT.	Famous companies using Django are Instagram, Coursera, Udemy.

Companies Using Flask

Here is the list of companies that we know are using Flask.

• Netflix
• Patreon
• Zillow
• Reddit
• MIT
• Uber
• Lyft
• Airbnb

Companies Using Django

We have observed the following companies making use of Django:

• Instagram
• National Geographic
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Dropbox
• Pinterest
• NASA
• Mozilla

Features of Flask

Based on our extensive use, here are the important features of Flask:

• Integrated support for unit testing.
• RESTful request dispatching.
• Uses a Jinja2 template engine.
• It is based on the Werkzeug toolkit.
• Support for secure cookies (client-side sessions).
• Extensive documentation.
• Google app engine compatibility.
• APIs are nicely shaped and coherent
• Easily deployable in production

Features of Django

I’d like to highlight the important features of Django based on what I’ve learned:

• Offers Model – View – Controller (MVC) Architecture.
• Predefined libraries for imaging, graphics, scientific calculations, etc.
• Supports multiple databases.
• Cross-platform operating system.
• Site optimization across specialized servers
• Support for front-end tools like Ajax, jQuery, Pyjamas, etc.
• Supports multi-language and multi-characters.

Advantages of Flask

Here, let me highlight the pros of using Flask from my perspective.

• Higher compatibility with the latest technologies
• Technical experimentation
• Easier to use for simple cases
• Codebase size is relatively smaller
• High scalability for simple applications,
• Easy to build a quick prototype
• Routing URLs is easy
• Easy to develop and maintain applications
• Database integration is easy
• Small core and easily extensible
• Minimal yet powerful platform
• There are lots of resources available online, especially on GitHub

Advantages of Django

Here, I’m sharing the benefits of the Django framework:

• Django is easy to set up and run
• It provides an easy-to-use interface for various administrative activities.
• It offers multilingual websites by using its built-in internationalization system
• Django allows end-to-end application testing
• Allows you to document your API with an HTML output
• REST Framework has rich support for several authentication protocols.
• It is used for rate-limiting API requests from a single user.
• Helps you define patterns for the URLs in your application
• Offers a built-in authentication system
• Cache framework comes with multiple cache mechanisms.
• High-level framework for rapid web development
• A complete stack of tools
• Data modeled with Python classes

Disadvantage of Flask

Here, I’d like to outline the downsides of Flask.

• Slower MVP development in most cases,
• Higher maintenance costs for more complex systems
• Complicated maintenance for larger implementations.
• Async may be a little problem
• Lack of database and ORM
• Setting up a large project requires some previous knowledge of the framework.
• Offers limited support and a smaller community compared to Django

Disadvantage of Django

Here, I’ll outline the cons of the Django framework.

• It is a monolithic platform.
• High dependence on Django ORM. Broad knowledge is required.
• Fewer design decisions and components.
• Compatibility with the latest technologies
• A higher entry point for simple solutions
• The larger size of the code
• Too bloated for small projects
• Underpowered templating and ORM
• Templates failed silently
• Auto reload restarts the entire server
• High learning curve
• Documentations does not cover real-world scenarios
• Only allows you to handle a single request per time.
• Routing requires some knowledge of regular expressions.
• Internal subcomponents coupling
• You can deploy components together, which can create confusion.

How to Choose Between a Flask and a Django

• If you want a granular level of control, I recommend preferring Flask, while a Django developer like me relies on an extensive community to create unique websites.
• Django combined with the REST Framework helps you build powerful APIs, whereas Flask requires more work, so there are high chances of making a mistake.
• The best method is to build a few basic CRUD apps with both frameworks and decide which framework fits your project style better.