Which OpenAPI Generator to Use? Zod OpenAPI vs Hono OpenAPI vs Hono Docs Generator

[bestickley]

Which OpenAPI Generator to Use? What's difference between Zod OpenAPI vs Hono OpenAPI vs Hono Docs Generator?

[JackyST0]

Here's a comparison of the three OpenAPI generators for Hono:

Quick Comparison

Feature	Zod OpenAPI	Hono OpenAPI	Hono Docs Generator
Schema validation	Zod (runtime)	Zod (runtime)	TypeBox/Valibot
Type inference	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent	✅ Good
Swagger UI	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in
Maintenance	Active	Active	Active
Learning curve	Medium	Medium	Easy

Recommendations

Use @hono/zod-openapi if:

• You're already using Zod in your project
• You want tight integration between validation and OpenAPI spec
• You need the most mature solution

import { OpenAPIHono, createRoute, z } from '@hono/zod-openapi'

const route = createRoute({
  method: 'get',
  path: '/users/{id}',
  request: {
    params: z.object({ id: z.string() })
  },
  responses: {
    200: { description: 'User found' }
  }
})

Use hono-openapi if:

• You want a lighter alternative
• You prefer a different API style

Use Hono Docs Generator if:

• You want the simplest setup
• You're okay with less customization

My Recommendation

Go with @hono/zod-openapi - it's the most widely used, well-documented, and has the best community support.

Docs: https://hono.dev/examples/zod-openapi

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