diff --git a/e2e/workspace/src/create-nx-workspace.test.ts b/e2e/workspace/src/create-nx-workspace.test.ts
index 9c0ec4d917..26cb1bf2dc 100644
--- a/e2e/workspace/src/create-nx-workspace.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/workspace/src/create-nx-workspace.test.ts
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ describe('create-nx-workspace', () => {
       style: 'css',
       appName,
     });
+
+    expectNoAngularDevkit();
   });
 
   it('should be able to create an express workspace', () => {
@@ -129,6 +131,8 @@ describe('create-nx-workspace', () => {
       style: 'css',
       appName,
     });
+
+    expectNoAngularDevkit();
   });
 
   it('should be able to create a workspace with a custom base branch and HEAD', () => {
diff --git a/packages/express/.eslintrc.json b/packages/express/.eslintrc.json
index 9a75f74f8b..ce862921c1 100644
--- a/packages/express/.eslintrc.json
+++ b/packages/express/.eslintrc.json
@@ -17,6 +17,19 @@
     {
       "files": ["*.js", "*.jsx"],
       "rules": {}
+    },
+    {
+      "files": ["**/*.ts"],
+      "excludedFiles": ["./src/migrations/**"],
+      "rules": {
+        "no-restricted-imports": [
+          "error",
+          "@nrwl/workspace",
+          "@angular-devkit/core",
+          "@angular-devkit/architect",
+          "@angular-devkit/schematics"
+        ]
+      }
     }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/packages/express/collection.json b/packages/express/collection.json
index 6046c36f05..f2867f194d 100644
--- a/packages/express/collection.json
+++ b/packages/express/collection.json
@@ -2,18 +2,34 @@
   "name": "Nx Express",
   "version": "0.1",
   "extends": ["@nrwl/workspace"],
-  "schematics": {
+  "generators": {
     "init": {
-      "factory": "./src/schematics/init/init",
-      "schema": "./src/schematics/init/schema.json",
+      "factory": "./src/generators/init/init#initGenerator",
+      "schema": "./src/generators/init/schema.json",
       "description": "Initialize the @nrwl/express plugin",
       "alias": ["ng-add"],
       "hidden": true
     },
 
     "application": {
-      "factory": "./src/schematics/application/application",
-      "schema": "./src/schematics/application/schema.json",
+      "factory": "./src/generators/application/application#applicationGenerator",
+      "schema": "./src/generators/application/schema.json",
+      "aliases": ["app"],
+      "description": "Create an express application"
+    }
+  },
+  "schematics": {
+    "init": {
+      "factory": "./src/generators/init/init#initSchematic",
+      "schema": "./src/generators/init/schema.json",
+      "description": "Initialize the @nrwl/express plugin",
+      "alias": ["ng-add"],
+      "hidden": true
+    },
+
+    "application": {
+      "factory": "./src/generators/application/application#applicationSchematic",
+      "schema": "./src/generators/application/schema.json",
       "aliases": ["app"],
       "description": "Create an express application"
     }
diff --git a/packages/express/index.ts b/packages/express/index.ts
index 47d712ab8e..69032cd12b 100644
--- a/packages/express/index.ts
+++ b/packages/express/index.ts
@@ -1 +1 @@
-export { applicationGenerator } from './src/schematics/application/application';
+export { applicationGenerator } from './src/generators/application/application';
diff --git a/packages/express/package.json b/packages/express/package.json
index cb5d12a73c..72d00f4730 100644
--- a/packages/express/package.json
+++ b/packages/express/package.json
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
     "@nrwl/devkit": "*",
     "@nrwl/node": "*",
     "@nrwl/jest": "*",
-    "@angular-devkit/core": "~11.2.0",
-    "@angular-devkit/schematics": "~11.2.0"
+    "@nrwl/workspace": "*"
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/express/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts b/packages/express/src/generators/application/application.spec.ts
similarity index 65%
rename from packages/express/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
rename to packages/express/src/generators/application/application.spec.ts
index 4a0ec7d090..045558be7a 100644
--- a/packages/express/src/schematics/application/application.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/express/src/generators/application/application.spec.ts
@@ -1,29 +1,25 @@
-import { Tree } from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
-import { createEmptyWorkspace } from '@nrwl/workspace/testing';
-import { runSchematic } from '../../utils/testing';
-import { readJsonInTree } from '@nrwl/workspace';
+import { readJson, Tree } from '@nrwl/devkit';
+import { createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace } from '@nrwl/devkit/testing';
 
-import { Schema } from './schema.d';
+import { applicationGenerator } from './application';
+import { Schema } from './schema';
 
 describe('app', () => {
   let appTree: Tree;
 
   beforeEach(() => {
-    appTree = Tree.empty();
-    appTree = createEmptyWorkspace(appTree);
+    appTree = createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace();
   });
 
   it('should generate files', async () => {
-    const tree = await runSchematic(
-      'app',
-      { name: 'myNodeApp' } as Schema,
-      appTree
-    );
+    await applicationGenerator(appTree, {
+      name: 'myNodeApp',
+    } as Schema);
 
-    const mainFile = tree.readContent('apps/my-node-app/src/main.ts');
+    const mainFile = appTree.read('apps/my-node-app/src/main.ts').toString();
     expect(mainFile).toContain(`import * as express from 'express';`);
 
-    const tsconfig = readJsonInTree(tree, 'apps/my-node-app/tsconfig.json');
+    const tsconfig = readJson(appTree, 'apps/my-node-app/tsconfig.json');
     expect(tsconfig).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
       Object {
         "extends": "../../tsconfig.base.json",
@@ -40,10 +36,7 @@ describe('app', () => {
       }
     `);
 
-    const eslintrcJson = readJsonInTree(
-      tree,
-      'apps/my-node-app/.eslintrc.json'
-    );
+    const eslintrcJson = readJson(appTree, 'apps/my-node-app/.eslintrc.json');
     expect(eslintrcJson).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
       Object {
         "extends": Array [
@@ -87,12 +80,10 @@ describe('app', () => {
   });
 
   it('should add types to the tsconfig.app.json', async () => {
-    const tree = await runSchematic(
-      'app',
-      { name: 'myNodeApp' } as Schema,
-      appTree
-    );
-    const tsconfig = readJsonInTree(tree, 'apps/my-node-app/tsconfig.app.json');
+    await applicationGenerator(appTree, {
+      name: 'myNodeApp',
+    } as Schema);
+    const tsconfig = readJson(appTree, 'apps/my-node-app/tsconfig.app.json');
     expect(tsconfig.compilerOptions.types).toContain('express');
     expect(tsconfig).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
       Object {
@@ -117,27 +108,23 @@ describe('app', () => {
 
   describe('--js flag', () => {
     it('should generate js files instead of ts files', async () => {
-      const tree = await runSchematic(
-        'app',
-        {
-          name: 'myNodeApp',
-          js: true,
-        } as Schema,
-        appTree
-      );
+      await applicationGenerator(appTree, {
+        name: 'myNodeApp',
+        js: true,
+      } as Schema);
 
-      expect(tree.exists('apps/my-node-app/src/main.js')).toBeTruthy();
-      expect(tree.readContent('apps/my-node-app/src/main.js')).toContain(
+      expect(appTree.exists('apps/my-node-app/src/main.js')).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(appTree.read('apps/my-node-app/src/main.js').toString()).toContain(
         `import * as express from 'express';`
       );
 
-      const tsConfig = readJsonInTree(tree, 'apps/my-node-app/tsconfig.json');
+      const tsConfig = readJson(appTree, 'apps/my-node-app/tsconfig.json');
       expect(tsConfig.compilerOptions).toEqual({
         allowJs: true,
       });
 
-      const tsConfigApp = readJsonInTree(
-        tree,
+      const tsConfigApp = readJson(
+        appTree,
         'apps/my-node-app/tsconfig.app.json'
       );
       expect(tsConfigApp.include).toEqual(['**/*.ts', '**/*.js']);
diff --git a/packages/express/src/generators/application/application.ts b/packages/express/src/generators/application/application.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e5e60a1090
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/express/src/generators/application/application.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+import {
+  convertNxGenerator,
+  formatFiles,
+  getWorkspaceLayout,
+  joinPathFragments,
+  names,
+  toJS,
+  Tree,
+  updateJson,
+} from '@nrwl/devkit';
+
+import { applicationGenerator as nodeApplicationGenerator } from '@nrwl/node';
+
+import { join } from 'path';
+import { Schema } from './schema';
+import { initGenerator } from '../init/init';
+
+interface NormalizedSchema extends Schema {
+  appProjectRoot: string;
+}
+
+function addTypes(tree: Tree, options: NormalizedSchema) {
+  const tsConfigPath = join(options.appProjectRoot, 'tsconfig.app.json');
+  updateJson(tree, tsConfigPath, (json) => {
+    json.compilerOptions.types = [...json.compilerOptions.types, 'express'];
+    return json;
+  });
+}
+
+function addAppFiles(tree: Tree, options: NormalizedSchema) {
+  tree.write(
+    join(options.appProjectRoot, `src/main.${options.js ? 'js' : 'ts'}`),
+    `/**
+ * This is not a production server yet!
+ * This is only a minimal backend to get started.
+ */
+
+import * as express from 'express';
+
+const app = express();
+
+app.get('/api', (req, res) => {
+  res.send({ message: 'Welcome to ${options.name}!' });
+});
+
+const port = process.env.port || 3333;
+const server = app.listen(port, () => {
+  console.log(\`Listening at http://localhost:\${port}/api\`);
+});
+server.on('error', console.error);
+`
+  );
+
+  if (options.js) {
+    toJS(tree);
+  }
+}
+
+export async function applicationGenerator(tree: Tree, schema: Schema) {
+  const options = normalizeOptions(tree, schema);
+  const initTask = await initGenerator(tree, { ...options, skipFormat: true });
+  const applicationTask = await nodeApplicationGenerator(tree, {
+    ...schema,
+    skipFormat: true,
+  });
+  addAppFiles(tree, options);
+  addTypes(tree, options);
+  await formatFiles(tree);
+
+  return async () => {
+    await initTask();
+    await applicationTask();
+  };
+}
+
+export default applicationGenerator;
+export const applicationSchematic = convertNxGenerator(applicationGenerator);
+
+function normalizeOptions(host: Tree, options: Schema): NormalizedSchema {
+  const appDirectory = options.directory
+    ? `${names(options.directory).fileName}/${names(options.name).fileName}`
+    : names(options.name).fileName;
+  const { appsDir } = getWorkspaceLayout(host);
+  const appProjectRoot = joinPathFragments(appsDir, appDirectory);
+
+  return {
+    ...options,
+    appProjectRoot,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/express/src/schematics/application/schema.d.ts b/packages/express/src/generators/application/schema.d.ts
similarity index 88%
rename from packages/express/src/schematics/application/schema.d.ts
rename to packages/express/src/generators/application/schema.d.ts
index 6b17559453..abbaca1a6a 100644
--- a/packages/express/src/schematics/application/schema.d.ts
+++ b/packages/express/src/generators/application/schema.d.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { UnitTestRunner } from '../../utils/test-runners';
-import { Linter } from '@nrwl/workspace';
+import type { Linter } from '@nrwl/linter';
 
 export interface Schema {
   name: string;
diff --git a/packages/express/src/schematics/application/schema.json b/packages/express/src/generators/application/schema.json
similarity index 99%
rename from packages/express/src/schematics/application/schema.json
rename to packages/express/src/generators/application/schema.json
index 45b358b591..be0917061c 100644
--- a/packages/express/src/schematics/application/schema.json
+++ b/packages/express/src/generators/application/schema.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/schema",
+  "cli": "nx",
   "id": "SchematicsNxExpressApp",
   "title": "Nx Application Options Schema",
   "type": "object",
diff --git a/packages/express/src/schematics/init/init.spec.ts b/packages/express/src/generators/init/init.spec.ts
similarity index 52%
rename from packages/express/src/schematics/init/init.spec.ts
rename to packages/express/src/generators/init/init.spec.ts
index 1212570482..d8a775ffd1 100644
--- a/packages/express/src/schematics/init/init.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/express/src/generators/init/init.spec.ts
@@ -1,30 +1,26 @@
-import { Tree } from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
-import { addDepsToPackageJson, readJsonInTree } from '@nrwl/workspace';
-import { createEmptyWorkspace } from '@nrwl/workspace/testing';
-import { runSchematic, callRule } from '../../utils/testing';
+import { addDependenciesToPackageJson, Tree } from '@nrwl/devkit';
 import { expressVersion } from '../../utils/versions';
+import initGenerator from './init';
+import { createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace } from '@nrwl/devkit/testing';
+import { readJson } from '@nrwl/devkit';
 
 describe('init', () => {
   let tree: Tree;
 
   beforeEach(() => {
-    tree = Tree.empty();
-    tree = createEmptyWorkspace(tree);
+    tree = createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace();
   });
 
   it('should add dependencies', async () => {
     const existing = 'existing';
     const existingVersion = '1.0.0';
-    await callRule(
-      addDepsToPackageJson(
-        { '@nrwl/express': expressVersion, [existing]: existingVersion },
-        { [existing]: existingVersion },
-        false
-      ),
-      tree
+    addDependenciesToPackageJson(
+      tree,
+      { '@nrwl/express': expressVersion, [existing]: existingVersion },
+      { [existing]: existingVersion }
     );
-    const result = await runSchematic('init', {}, tree);
-    const packageJson = readJsonInTree(result, 'package.json');
+    await initGenerator(tree, {});
+    const packageJson = readJson(tree, 'package.json');
     // add express
     expect(packageJson.dependencies['express']).toBeDefined();
     // move `@nrwl/express` to dev
@@ -39,20 +35,16 @@ describe('init', () => {
 
   describe('defaultCollection', () => {
     it('should be set if none was set before', async () => {
-      const result = await runSchematic('init', {}, tree);
-      const workspaceJson = readJsonInTree(result, 'workspace.json');
+      await initGenerator(tree, {});
+      const workspaceJson = readJson(tree, 'workspace.json');
       expect(workspaceJson.cli.defaultCollection).toEqual('@nrwl/express');
     });
   });
 
   it('should not add jest config if unitTestRunner is none', async () => {
-    const result = await runSchematic(
-      'init',
-      {
-        unitTestRunner: 'none',
-      },
-      tree
-    );
-    expect(result.exists('jest.config.js')).toEqual(false);
+    await initGenerator(tree, {
+      unitTestRunner: 'none',
+    });
+    expect(tree.exists('jest.config.js')).toEqual(false);
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/express/src/generators/init/init.ts b/packages/express/src/generators/init/init.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c8a0a02023
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/express/src/generators/init/init.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import {
+  addDependenciesToPackageJson,
+  Tree,
+  updateJson,
+  formatFiles,
+  convertNxGenerator,
+} from '@nrwl/devkit';
+
+import { setDefaultCollection } from '@nrwl/workspace/src/utilities/set-default-collection';
+
+import { initGenerator as nodeInitGenerator } from '@nrwl/node';
+
+import {
+  expressTypingsVersion,
+  expressVersion,
+  nxVersion,
+} from '../../utils/versions';
+import { Schema } from './schema';
+
+function removeNrwlExpressFromDeps(tree: Tree) {
+  updateJson(tree, 'package.json', (json) => {
+    delete json.dependencies['@nrwl/express'];
+    return json;
+  });
+}
+
+export async function initGenerator(tree: Tree, schema: Schema) {
+  setDefaultCollection(tree, '@nrwl/express');
+
+  const initTask = await nodeInitGenerator(tree, {
+    unitTestRunner: schema.unitTestRunner,
+    skipFormat: true,
+  });
+  removeNrwlExpressFromDeps(tree);
+  const installTask = addDependenciesToPackageJson(
+    tree,
+    {
+      express: expressVersion,
+      tslib: '^2.0.0',
+    },
+    {
+      '@types/express': expressTypingsVersion,
+      '@nrwl/express': nxVersion,
+    }
+  );
+  if (!schema.skipFormat) {
+    await formatFiles(tree);
+  }
+
+  return async () => {
+    await initTask();
+    await installTask();
+  };
+}
+
+export default initGenerator;
+export const initSchematic = convertNxGenerator(initGenerator);
diff --git a/packages/express/src/generators/init/schema.d.ts b/packages/express/src/generators/init/schema.d.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dde6ab2877
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/express/src/generators/init/schema.d.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+export interface Schema {
+  unitTestRunner?: 'jest' | 'none';
+  skipFormat?: boolean;
+}
diff --git a/packages/express/src/schematics/init/schema.json b/packages/express/src/generators/init/schema.json
similarity index 96%
rename from packages/express/src/schematics/init/schema.json
rename to packages/express/src/generators/init/schema.json
index 25bf9b2039..449586e836 100644
--- a/packages/express/src/schematics/init/schema.json
+++ b/packages/express/src/generators/init/schema.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/schema",
+  "cli": "nx",
   "id": "NxExpressInit",
   "title": "Init Express Plugin",
   "type": "object",
diff --git a/packages/express/src/schematics/application/application.ts b/packages/express/src/schematics/application/application.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 6e034ed4d8..0000000000
--- a/packages/express/src/schematics/application/application.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,85 +0,0 @@
-import {
-  chain,
-  externalSchematic,
-  Rule,
-  SchematicContext,
-  Tree,
-} from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
-import { join, normalize, Path } from '@angular-devkit/core';
-import { Schema } from './schema';
-import { updateJsonInTree } from '@nrwl/workspace';
-import { formatFiles } from '@nrwl/workspace';
-import init from '../init/init';
-import { appsDir } from '@nrwl/workspace/src/utils/ast-utils';
-import { maybeJs } from '@nrwl/workspace/src/utils/rules/to-js';
-import { names } from '@nrwl/devkit';
-import { wrapAngularDevkitSchematic } from '@nrwl/devkit/ngcli-adapter';
-
-interface NormalizedSchema extends Schema {
-  appProjectRoot: Path;
-}
-
-function addTypes(options: NormalizedSchema): Rule {
-  const tsConfigPath = join(options.appProjectRoot, 'tsconfig.app.json');
-  return updateJsonInTree(tsConfigPath, (json) => {
-    json.compilerOptions.types = [...json.compilerOptions.types, 'express'];
-    return json;
-  });
-}
-
-function addAppFiles(options: NormalizedSchema): Rule {
-  return (host: Tree) => {
-    host.overwrite(
-      maybeJs(options, join(options.appProjectRoot, 'src/main.ts')),
-      `/**
- * This is not a production server yet!
- * This is only a minimal backend to get started.
- */
-
-import * as express from 'express';
-
-const app = express();
-
-app.get('/api', (req, res) => {
-  res.send({ message: 'Welcome to ${options.name}!' });
-});
-
-const port = process.env.port || 3333;
-const server = app.listen(port, () => {
-  console.log(\`Listening at http://localhost:\${port}/api\`);
-});
-server.on('error', console.error);
-`
-    );
-  };
-}
-
-export default function (schema: Schema): Rule {
-  return (host: Tree, context: SchematicContext) => {
-    const options = normalizeOptions(host, schema);
-    return chain([
-      init({ ...options, skipFormat: true }),
-      externalSchematic('@nrwl/node', 'application', schema),
-      addAppFiles(options),
-      addTypes(options),
-      formatFiles(options),
-    ])(host, context);
-  };
-}
-
-function normalizeOptions(host: Tree, options: Schema): NormalizedSchema {
-  const appDirectory = options.directory
-    ? `${names(options.directory).fileName}/${names(options.name).fileName}`
-    : names(options.name).fileName;
-  const appProjectRoot = join(normalize(appsDir(host)), appDirectory);
-
-  return {
-    ...options,
-    appProjectRoot,
-  };
-}
-
-export const applicationGenerator = wrapAngularDevkitSchematic(
-  '@nrwl/express',
-  'application'
-);
diff --git a/packages/express/src/schematics/init/init.ts b/packages/express/src/schematics/init/init.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 516acbb477..0000000000
--- a/packages/express/src/schematics/init/init.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-import { chain, noop, Rule } from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
-import {
-  addPackageWithInit,
-  formatFiles,
-  setDefaultCollection,
-  addDepsToPackageJson,
-  updateJsonInTree,
-} from '@nrwl/workspace';
-import {
-  expressTypingsVersion,
-  expressVersion,
-  nxVersion,
-} from '../../utils/versions';
-import { Schema } from './schema';
-
-function removeNrwlExpressFromDeps(): Rule {
-  return updateJsonInTree('package.json', (json) => {
-    delete json.dependencies['@nrwl/express'];
-    return json;
-  });
-}
-
-export default function (schema: Schema) {
-  return chain([
-    setDefaultCollection('@nrwl/express'),
-    addPackageWithInit('@nrwl/node', schema),
-    schema.unitTestRunner === 'jest'
-      ? addPackageWithInit('@nrwl/jest')
-      : noop(),
-    removeNrwlExpressFromDeps(),
-    addDepsToPackageJson(
-      {
-        express: expressVersion,
-        tslib: '^2.0.0',
-      },
-      {
-        '@types/express': expressTypingsVersion,
-        '@nrwl/express': nxVersion,
-      }
-    ),
-    formatFiles(schema),
-  ]);
-}
diff --git a/packages/express/src/schematics/init/schema.d.ts b/packages/express/src/schematics/init/schema.d.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 52ac13000a..0000000000
--- a/packages/express/src/schematics/init/schema.d.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-export interface Schema {
-  unitTestRunner: 'jest' | 'none';
-  skipFormat: boolean;
-}
diff --git a/packages/express/src/utils/testing.ts b/packages/express/src/utils/testing.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 2d09523774..0000000000
--- a/packages/express/src/utils/testing.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-import { join } from 'path';
-import { SchematicTestRunner } from '@angular-devkit/schematics/testing';
-import { Rule, Tree } from '@angular-devkit/schematics';
-
-const testRunner = new SchematicTestRunner(
-  '@nrwl/express',
-  join(__dirname, '../../collection.json')
-);
-
-testRunner.registerCollection(
-  '@nrwl/jest',
-  join(__dirname, '../../../jest/collection.json')
-);
-
-testRunner.registerCollection(
-  '@nrwl/node',
-  join(__dirname, '../../../node/collection.json')
-);
-
-export function runSchematic(schematicName: string, options: any, tree: Tree) {
-  return testRunner.runSchematicAsync(schematicName, options, tree).toPromise();
-}
-
-export function callRule(rule: Rule, tree: Tree) {
-  return testRunner.callRule(rule, tree).toPromise();
-}
diff --git a/packages/node/index.ts b/packages/node/index.ts
index 2c89d6a04f..642dd5b126 100644
--- a/packages/node/index.ts
+++ b/packages/node/index.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 export { applicationGenerator } from './src/generators/application/application';
 export { libraryGenerator } from './src/generators/library/library';
+export { initGenerator } from './src/generators/init/init';