Bun ORM Alternatives

📘 Introduction to Bun ORM Alternatives

When working with databases in a Bun-powered backend, choosing the right ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) tool is essential. However, not all mainstream ORMs support Bun out-of-the-box due to its newer JavaScript runtime. This post explores the top Bun ORM Alternatives you can rely on for smooth database operations — whether you're using PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite.

💡 Why ORM Compatibility in Bun Matters

Bun’s blazing-fast performance makes it an attractive choice for backend development, but its compatibility with Node.js libraries isn't always 100%. Some popular ORMs like Prisma rely on native binaries or Node-specific APIs that may not fully work in Bun. That's where lighter, JavaScript-native ORMs or raw SQL clients come into play.

🟡 1. Drizzle ORM — Lightweight & Bun-Friendly

drizzle-orm is one of the most promising ORMs for Bun. It's lightweight, built for TypeScript, and doesn't rely on native Node bindings — making it highly compatible with Bun.

# Install Drizzle for PostgreSQL
bun add drizzle-orm pg

import { drizzle } from 'drizzle-orm/node-postgres';
import { Pool } from 'pg';

const pool = new Pool({ connectionString: 'postgresql://localhost/db' });
const db = drizzle(pool);

const result = await db.select().from(users);
console.log(result);

✅ Pros: Fully typed, schema-safe, supports PostgreSQL/MySQL/SQLite, works well with Bun ⚠️ Cons: Still evolving, smaller community than Prisma

🟢 2. Kysely — TypeScript-First SQL Builder

kysely is another powerful option for SQL with types. It’s not a full ORM but offers a typed SQL query builder with strong TypeScript inference.

bun add kysely pg

import { Kysely, PostgresDialect } from 'kysely';
import { Pool } from 'pg';

const db = new Kysely({
  dialect: new PostgresDialect({ pool: new Pool({ connectionString: '...' }) }),
});

const users = await db.selectFrom('users').selectAll().execute();
console.log(users);

✅ Pros: Precise typings, good performance, flexible ⚠️ Cons: More verbose than traditional ORMs

🔵 3. Prisma — Partial Support in Bun

Prisma is a robust ORM loved by many developers, but it’s not officially supported in Bun due to native binary dependencies. However, you can use it in Bun by transpiling with tsc and running via Node.js compatibility layer (experimental).

# Use Prisma CLI (run outside Bun)
npx prisma init

# Then generate Prisma client using Node.js
npx prisma generate

You can still use the generated client in Bun, but it might not work in all setups.

✅ Pros: Rich features, migrations, robust query builder ⚠️ Cons: Heavy, less reliable in Bun environment

🧩 4. Postgres.js — Raw Yet Powerful

For those who prefer simplicity and performance over abstraction, postgres by Porsager is a fast, modern SQL client that works flawlessly with Bun.

bun add postgres

import postgres from 'postgres';

const sql = postgres();
const users = await sql`SELECT * FROM users`;

✅ Pros: Lightweight, no ORM overhead, full control ⚠️ Cons: No schema validation, manual SQL

🟣 5. Sequelize — Not Recommended (Yet)

Sequelize is a well-known ORM for Node.js, but due to its heavy reliance on Node internals, it doesn't work reliably in Bun. Unless official support is added, it’s better to avoid Sequelize for now.

🛠️ Choosing the Right Bun ORM Alternative

Here’s a quick comparison:

✅ Final Thoughts

Choosing an ORM or database client for Bun depends on your project’s needs — whether you want type safety, developer ergonomics, or raw performance. With options like Drizzle, Kysely, and Postgres.js, Bun developers have plenty of powerful tools to manage relational databases without compromising on speed or compatibility.

As the Bun ecosystem continues to grow, expect even tighter integrations and more officially supported ORMs in the near future. For now, these Bun ORM alternatives give you everything you need to ship fast, scalable, and maintainable apps. 🚀