Autoprefixer vs Lightningcss

Downloads & Popularity

Lightningcss leads with 77.1M weekly downloads — roughly 1.3x more. Autoprefixer has 60.7M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Lightningcss has the smallest gzipped bundle at 3.7 KB. Autoprefixer comes in at 59.0 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Autoprefixer has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Lightningcss has an overall health score of 73/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Autoprefixer if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Lightningcss if you value massive community and ecosystem, minimal bundle footprint, strong security track record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is autoprefixer better than lightningcss?

It depends on your needs. Autoprefixer has a health score of 85/100 while Lightningcss scores 73/100. Lightningcss has more weekly downloads (77.1M), 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, autoprefixer or lightningcss?

Lightningcss has the smaller gzipped bundle at 3.7 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.

How many developers use autoprefixer vs lightningcss?

Based on npm download statistics, Autoprefixer has approximately 60.7M weekly downloads and Lightningcss has approximately 77.1M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.

Which is better maintained, autoprefixer or lightningcss?

Autoprefixer currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Autoprefixer has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Lightningcss scores 60/100 on maintenance.