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Comparison guide

Autoprefixer vs Lightningcss

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

Lightningcss

3.7 KB gzipped

Most Popular

Lightningcss

211.4M weekly downloads

Best Maintained

Autoprefixer

100/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

Autoprefixer

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Lightningcss

Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality

  1. autoprefixer

    Parse CSS and add vendor prefixes to CSS rules using values from the Can I Use website

    75.6M weekly downloads · 77.2 KB gzip · Health 85/100

    0
  2. lightningcss

    A CSS parser, transformer, and minifier written in Rust

    211.4M weekly downloads · 3.7 KB gzip · Health 79/100

    0

Choosing between Autoprefixer and Lightningcss? 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

Lightningcss leads with 211.4M weekly downloads — roughly 2.8x more. Autoprefixer has 75.6M 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 77.2 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 79/100 (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 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.

Our Verdict

Both Autoprefixer and Lightningcss are solid choices for JavaScript development. Autoprefixer 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 autoprefixer better than lightningcss?
It depends on your needs. Autoprefixer has a health score of 85/100 while Lightningcss scores 79/100. Lightningcss has more recorded weekly downloads (211.4M). 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?
Lightningcss has more recorded weekly downloads (211.4M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, autoprefixer or lightningcss?
Autoprefixer has a maintenance score of 100/100. Autoprefixer scores 100/100 and Lightningcss scores 80/100 on maintenance.

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