A new benchmark study compares Bun, Deno, and Node.js on real projects. Bun's JavaScriptCore engine and Zig backend deliver 52,000 HTTP req/sec, beating Deno's 29,000 and Node's 14,000. Native APIs push Bun to 68,000 req/sec. Package installation shows Bun install at 47 seconds versus 28 minutes for npm.

TypeScript execution is seamless in Bun and Deno, while Node requires experimental flags. For serverless, Bun's 156ms cold start is 35% faster than Node's 245ms, reducing AWS Lambda costs. Memory use drops 10-30% in production apps. Deno's security model demands explicit permissions, unlike Bun and Node's default system access.

Compatibility varies: Bun implements most Node.js APIs but has edge-case breaks. Deno 2 uses `npm:` specifiers, though CommonJS packages may need tweaks. Bun's built-in test runner is 20x faster than Jest. For 2026, Node suits legacy code, Deno fits secure greenfield projects, and Bun excels in performance-critical APIs.