Prisma vs Drizzle: Complete Comparison Guide
Compare Prisma and Drizzle ORM on type safety, bundle size, performance, and developer experience. Discover which TypeScript ORM is the best fit for your project.
Prisma
The most popular TypeScript ORM featuring a declarative schema, auto-generated types, and a powerful query engine. Prisma 7 delivers a 90% smaller bundle size and improved cold start performance, making the platform better suited for serverless and edge environments. Prisma Studio provides a visual database editor.
Drizzle
A lightweight TypeScript ORM with SQL-like syntax that stays close to the database. At just 7.4 KB bundle size with fast cold starts, Drizzle is optimized for edge and serverless environments. It offers full type safety without code generation and works with PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite.
Comparison table
| Feature | Prisma | Drizzle |
|---|---|---|
| Bundle size | Significantly smaller with Prisma 7 (90% reduction), but still larger than Drizzle | 7.4 KB — extremely lightweight, ideal for edge deployments |
| Query syntax | Custom Prisma Client API — abstract, TypeScript-native syntax | SQL-like syntax — read and write patterns similar to raw SQL |
| Type safety | Full type safety via generated types from the Prisma schema | Full type safety directly from TypeScript schema definitions |
| Migrations | Prisma Migrate with declarative schema and auto-generated migrations | Drizzle Kit for migrations with push and pull commands |
| Cold start | Improved in Prisma 7, but still slower than Drizzle on edge | Minimal cold start thanks to the small bundle size |
| Ecosystem | Large ecosystem, Prisma Studio, extensive documentation | Growing ecosystem, Drizzle Studio, active community |
Verdict
Prisma and Drizzle are both excellent TypeScript ORMs offering full type safety, but with different philosophies. Prisma 7 has made significant strides with a 90% smaller bundle and better edge support, solidifying its position as the most mature ORM. Drizzle distinguishes itself with SQL-like syntax and a bundle size of just 7.4 KB, making it preferred for edge-first architectures. For new projects, the choice depends on your preference: abstraction and tooling (Prisma) or SQL proximity and minimal overhead (Drizzle).
Our recommendation
At MG Software, we use Prisma for projects that benefit from the declarative schema and extensive tooling, particularly for complex data models. For edge-first applications and projects where cold start performance is crucial, we choose Drizzle for its minimal bundle size. We combine both ORMs with Supabase and PostgreSQL. The choice is aligned with project requirements: Prisma for rapid development with Prisma Studio, Drizzle for maximum runtime performance.
Frequently asked questions
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