Java has long been a cornerstone of web development, powering millions of applications across various industries. 

As we enter 2025, Java frameworks are getting better. They now offer developers tools to work faster and more efficiently. With these advancements, the demand for Java developers is growing, as companies seek to hire Java developers to build scalable web applications.

Java frameworks help add useful features to your code, making development easier. We’ve researched the top Java frameworks so that you can choose the best one for your needs.

In this article, we’ll examine the features, benefits, and uses of the top Java web development frameworks.

What is a Java Framework?

Java has a long history, and because of that, many frameworks and libraries are available. This makes Java development easier.

Before we look at the top Java frameworks, it’s important to understand that Java is mainly used for backend development. The backend refers to the server side of a website.

A Java framework is a pre-written set of code libraries, tools, and best practices. It is designed to speed up and simplify application development. It provides a structured way for developers to build software without starting from scratch. 

These frameworks are mainly for backend development. They process inputs, manage hardware, and communicate with applications. Often called libraries or APIs, they are vital in Java development. They help developers save time and build efficient applications.

Why Use Java Frameworks?

Java frameworks provide structure and simplify the development process for web applications. They automate tasks like testing, creating web apps, and ORM (object-relational mapping), making development faster and more efficient.

In short, Java web development frameworks include Java front-end frameworks and Java frameworks for backend development. These frameworks ease developers' work by handling repetitive, generic tasks. It lets developers focus on core business logic, not repeated code. This results in reliable and efficient applications.

12 Popular Java Frameworks for Web Development

Now, let's explore the leading Java frameworks for 2025. These frameworks are the top picks for web development.

1. Spring

Spring is an open-source, lightweight Java web development framework known for its speed, simplicity, and productivity. It is widely recognized as one of the top Java frameworks in the world. Spring supports Java development with excellent infrastructure, which is a favorite among developers.

Spring is part of the Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) ecosystem. It allows developers to build high-performing apps using plain old Java objects (POJOs). Its reliability and flexibility have earned contributions from major tech giants like Alibaba, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and more.

Salient Features of Spring

• Web Development
• Spring Security
• Application Listeners and Events
• Properties Files
• Spring Boot Starter
• Externalized Configuration
• Type-safe Configuration
• Admin Features

Advantages of Spring

• Fully compatible with XML configurations, ensuring seamless integration
• Offers robust security options for better application safety
• Supports the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, which improves the separation of concerns
• Provides efficient handling of JDBC connections for database management
• Reduces errors in applications, making them more reliable and easier to maintain

2. Google Web Toolkit (GWT)

Google Web Toolkit (GWT) is one of the best Java frameworks for web development. It provides a widely used open-source toolset and libraries for JavaScript front-end applications. Once your app is ready, the GWT compiler turns your Java code into JavaScript and HTML for browsers.

Launched in 2006, GWT has become a top choice for developers of large, maintainable web applications. Its extensive library of UI components makes building complex applications easier. 

Additionally, GWT is a strong Java framework for front-end development, ranking among the best for developers worldwide.

Salient Features of Google Web Toolkit (GWT)

• Rich user interface components
• Full-featured Java debugging support
• Integration with unit testing
• Reusable and dynamic UI components
• Support for localization and internationalization

Advantages of Google Web Toolkit (GWT)

• Easy for developers to design web applications
• Offers a library of widgets for user interfaces
• Compatible with various integrated development environments (IDEs)
• Provides cross-platform compatibility
• Supports a wide range of APIs

3. Hibernate

Hibernate is one of the most popular Java frameworks for web development. It is a lightweight, open-source Java web app framework designed to make data-driven application development easier and faster. It has a query language, Hibernate Query Language (HQL). 

Hibernate reduces manual data work, which saves time and lowers costs. It also helps developers create efficient, scalable applications. Moreover, Hibernate reduces errors and makes code easier to read.

Top companies like Platform, DAILY HOTEL, IBM, and Dell use Hibernate. They rely on its advanced features.

Salient Features of Hibernate:

• Lazy Loading
• Cache Mechanism
• ORM (Object Relational Mapping)
• Auto-Generation
• Scalability
• High Performance

Advantages of Hibernate

• ORM allows communication between the application and any database
• Lightweight and open-source
• Hibernate supports Persistence APIs
• Supports mapping of Java classes to database tables and vice versa
• High-performance capabilities

4. Struts

Apache Struts is one of the best Java frameworks for building modern, enterprise-level Java web applications. It helps reduce development time while simplifying the process for developers. 

This is an open-source Java web app framework created by Craig McClanahan. It uses the Java Servlet API to speed up development.

The power of Struts lies in its model layer. It integrates seamlessly with other top Java frameworks like Spring, Hibernate, and JDBC. Struts separate the View, Controller, and Model (data) components, connecting them via the struts-config.xml configuration file. This makes it highly efficient and easy to manage.

Many leading companies, including Infosys, Accenture, and NextGen, use Struts in their technology stacks.

Salient Features of Struts

• Easy Plugins
• Integration Support
• Various Tag Support
• Configurable MVC Components
• POJO-based Actions
• Theme and Template Support
• AJAX Support

Advantaged of Struts

• Struts reduce the overall development time
• It helps in ease of application management
• Struts documentation is based on active web developers
• It minimizes the overall development time
• Provide XML type of files for a centralized configuration

5. Play Framework

Play is a powerful, open-source Java web application framework widely used for modern web development. Play, written in Scala, enables web and mobile app development. 

It boosts productivity and includes essential components and APIs for Java web frameworks. Companies like LinkedIn, Coursera, and Glovo use Play. It helps them build efficient, scalable apps that meet user demands.

Salient Features of Play

• Lightweight and web-friendly architecture
• Robust build and console tools
• Built-in testing tools
• Hit refresh workflow
• IDE support for IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse
• Type-safe programming
• High-performing app developments

Advantages of Play

• Fault-tolerant and highly flexible
• Supports hot coding and convention-over-configuration
• Provides clear error messages and notifications
• Handles non-blocking input/output functions efficiently

6. Grails

Grails is a powerful open-source framework for backend development built using the Apache Groovy programming language.

This Java web app framework runs on the Java platform. It is widely used for enterprise apps, dynamic websites, and mobile apps.

With Grails, you can effortlessly meet tight deadlines, making it ideal for time-sensitive projects. The framework offers clear documentation and easy deployment, supported by detailed references. Its smooth workflow and features make it difficult for developers to switch to other IDEs after using Grails.

Salient Features of Grails

• Seamless Java Integration
• Built-In Testing Framework
• Groovy Lineage
• Spring Boot Foundation
• Optimum Reloading Agent
• Plugin Library

Advantages of Grails

• Provides object-mapping features for simplified development
• Encourages code reusability, improving productivity
• Includes detailed and easy-to-understand documentation
• Supports cross-platform IDEs and customized plugins

7. JavaServer Faces

JSF is a top Java web development framework. It simplifies complex tasks and delivers efficient, user-friendly solutions. JavaServer Faces (JSF) is an open-source, fast-paced technology for building rich user interfaces using Java. JSF is one of the top Java frameworks for web development. It offers a structured model, a rich API, and tag libraries. 

Following the MVC pattern, it includes UI components, event handling, and Ajax support. Thus, JSF is a trusted choice for developers. It provides a strong solution for dynamic UIs, even against newer frameworks.

Salient Features of JavaServer Faces

• Built on top of the Servlet API
• Follows the MVC software design
• A reliable and stable Java web application framework
• Implements Facelets Technology for creating views
• Integrates with Expression Language
• Supports HTML5
• Ensures ease and rapid web development
• Provides internationalization support for global audiences

Advantages of Using JavaServer Faces

• Ensures greater reliability for web applications
• Offers cross-browser compatibility
• Supports multiple output formats with graceful degradation
• Has a relatively lower learning curve for developers
• Provides rich libraries and reusable UI components
• Includes easy-to-use front-end tools that require minimal coding
• Helps boost productivity and maintain consistency in development

8. Dropwizard

Dropwizard is a lightweight Java framework that helps developers build applications quickly. It includes support for advanced configurations, making it ideal for rapid development. This open-source framework for Java simplifies the process of creating RESTful services.

Dropwizard is built primarily on Hibernate, which is a powerful and simple data access layer. It allows developers to interact with the database as objects. Dropwizard lets you focus on business logic, avoiding extra overhead. Build high-performance web apps with this Java framework, even if you're new to it.

Salient Features of Dropwizard

• Utilizes Hibernate Validator API
• Instead of a War File, it Packages Every App as a Jar
• Supports Monitoring Using Metrics Library
• Utilize Logback and SLF4J for Logging

Advantages of Dropwizard

• It makes rapid prototyping easy and efficient.
• Supports open-source and independent libraries.
• Quick project bootstrap process.
• Easy to set up and highly beginner-friendly.
• Ideal for building stable, reliable, and high-performance web applications.

9. Vaadin

Vaadin is one of the best open-source Java frameworks for web development. Vaadin allows you to create web applications that work on any platform. It's written in Java, ensuring compatibility across systems. 

The platform offers many UI components and supports themes and responsive design. This makes it attractive for modern web development. 

If you're using Java or looking for Java frameworks for front-end development, Vaadin should be on your list of top Java frameworks to consider.

Salient Features of Vaadin

• Two built-in themes: Material and Lumo
• Style alternatives directly from Java
• Navigation without reloading the whole page
• Java-only type-safe web development
• Java-API for web-based elements
• Supports deep linking and the back button

Advantages of Vaadin

• Vaadin is one of the best Java frameworks for its support of JVM
• It uses a web socket to establish client-server communication automatically
• Supports Data Binding through MVP and MVC
• Provides a router with nested routes, simplifying navigation

10. Wicket

Wicket is a popular open-source Java web application framework that helps you create full-featured web applications using Java. Apache Wicket, created by Jonathan Locke, is a component-based framework. 

Though newer than many Java frameworks, it is popular in Java web development. Wicket is an excellent choice for building Java web applications, supporting both front-end and back-end development.

Wicket is versatile for desktops, tablets, and mobile apps. It seamlessly integrates with J2EE containers like Glassfish, Geronimo, Tomcat, and JBoss EAP.

Salient Features of Wicket

• Configurable MVC Components
• POJO-Based Actions
• AJAX Support
• Integration Support
• Various Result Types
• Tag Support
• Theme and Template Support

Advantages of Wicket

• Based on JSP, making it easier for developers to use
• Follows a component-oriented structure
• No need for complex XML files
• Uses a POJO (Plain Old Java Object) model
• Lightweight and fast, offering high performance

11. Blade

The Blade Framework is a lightweight and high-performance MVC architecture-based framework in Java. It makes an excellent choice for Java web development. It's renowned for its speed and efficiency in developing full-stack web applications. 

Built on Java Version 8, Blade is a solid option for modern Java projects. As one of the popular Java frameworks in use today, it's known for its lightweight design and robust features.

Salient Features of Blade

• Lightweight
• Modular (choose which components to use)
• Support for plug-in extensions
• RESTful style routing interface
• Multiple configuration files support (properties, JSON, and coding)
• Embedded jetty server and template engine support
• Supports JDK 1.6 or higher

Advantages of Blade

• Ideal for creating miniature MVC applications
• Supports the configuration of multiple files
• Enables plug-in extensions and Web JARs
• Useful for Defense support for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
• Protects against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

12. ATG

ATG is one of the best Java frameworks for web development. It is perfect for businesses needing a powerful and flexible solution. However, due to its complexity and cost, it’s more suitable for larger enterprises.

If you're looking for a framework for Java that supports advanced features, ATG is a great option.

When choosing a Java framework for web development, consider all options to find the right one for your needs. ATG excels at handling complex services and personalization, but might not be the best fit for smaller projects.

Salient Features of ATG

• Continuous Deployment
• Personalization Capabilities
• Data Anywhere Architecture
• Payment Integration Support
• Application Server Support
• ATG Content Administration Tools
• Provides ATG Merchandising Concepts

Advantages of ATG

• Includes both B2B and B2C offerings
• Helps owners manage and sell complex services and products
• Personalization available for a better client experience
• Offers customizable campaigns, sites, and content

Summing up

This brings us to the end of this article. After exploring these best Java frameworks, you might be unsure which suits your business best. Choosing the right Java framework depends on your business needs and goals. With technology advancing quickly, you need a framework that keeps up. 

These frameworks manage everything, from traditional Java web development tasks to complex browser-based applications. The key to success lies in choosing the framework that makes your development process easier, faster, and future-ready.

Ready to make the right choice for your business? Contact us today to discuss your needs and find the perfect framework for your development journey.