Astro vs Gatsby

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

astro

Very Popular

Version 5.18.0

85
Excellent

Astro is a modern site builder with web best practices, performance, and DX front-of-mind.

Weekly Downloads
1.4M
41%
Bundle (gzip)
722.5 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

gatsby

Popular

Version 5.16.1

81
Excellent

Blazing fast modern site generator for React

Weekly Downloads
326.0K
9%
Bundle (gzip)
2.0 MB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
80
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Astro and Gatsby? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

Astro leads with 1.4M weekly downloads — roughly 4.4x more. Gatsby has 326.0K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Astro has the smallest gzipped bundle at 722.5 KB. Gatsby comes in at 2.0 MB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Astro has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Gatsby has an overall health score of 81/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Astro if you value large community support, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Gatsby if you value actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Astro and Gatsby are solid choices for JavaScript development. Astro has the edge in overall health score (85/100), while each package brings unique strengths to the table. Evaluate them based on your project's priorities — whether that's community size, bundle efficiency, or maintenance activity — and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is astro better than gatsby?
It depends on your needs. Astro has a health score of 85/100 while Gatsby scores 81/100. Astro has more weekly downloads (1.4M), suggesting broader adoption. Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, astro or gatsby?
Astro has the smaller gzipped bundle at 722.5 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use astro vs gatsby?
Based on npm download statistics, Astro has approximately 1.4M weekly downloads and Gatsby has approximately 326.0K weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, astro or gatsby?
Astro currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Astro has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Gatsby scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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