Aws-cdk vs Pulumi

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

aws-cdk

Very Popular

Version 2.1108.0

85
Excellent

AWS CDK CLI, the command line tool for CDK apps

Weekly Downloads
3.0M
↑28%
Bundle (gzip)
7.0 MB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

pulumi

Niche

Version 0.0.1

49
Fair
Weekly Downloads
2.8K
↑77%
Bundle (gzip)
0 B
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
20
Popularity
40
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Aws-cdk and Pulumi? 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

Aws-cdk leads with 3.0M weekly downloads — roughly 1059.3x more. Pulumi has 2.8K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Pulumi has the smallest gzipped bundle at 0 B. Aws-cdk comes in at 7.0 MB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Aws-cdk has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Pulumi has an overall health score of 49/100 (moderate), with strong security scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Aws-cdk if you value large community support, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Pulumi if you value strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Aws-cdk and Pulumi are solid choices for JavaScript development. Aws-cdk 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 aws-cdk better than pulumi?
It depends on your needs. Aws-cdk has a health score of 85/100 while Pulumi scores 49/100. Aws-cdk has more weekly downloads (3.0M), 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, aws-cdk or pulumi?
Pulumi has the smaller gzipped bundle at 0 B. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use aws-cdk vs pulumi?
Based on npm download statistics, Aws-cdk has approximately 3.0M weekly downloads and Pulumi has approximately 2.8K weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, aws-cdk or pulumi?
Aws-cdk currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Aws-cdk has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Pulumi scores 20/100 on maintenance.

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