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Comparison guide

Aws-cdk vs Pulumi

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

Pulumi

2.1 KB gzipped

Most Popular

Aws-cdk

6.1M weekly downloads

Best Maintained

Aws-cdk

100/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

Aws-cdk

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Aws-cdk

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

  1. aws-cdk

    AWS CDK Toolkit CLI, the command line tool for CDK apps

    6.1M weekly downloads · 7.4 MB gzip · Health 85/100

    0
  2. pulumi

    Pulumi Infrastructure as Code CLI

    40.1K weekly downloads · 2.1 KB gzip · Health 77/100

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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 6.1M weekly downloads — roughly 152.2x more. Pulumi has 40.1K 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 2.1 KB. Aws-cdk comes in at 7.4 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 77/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, 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 minimal bundle footprint, actively maintained, 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 77/100. Aws-cdk has more recorded weekly downloads (6.1M). 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 2.1 KB. 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?
Aws-cdk has more recorded weekly downloads (6.1M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, aws-cdk or pulumi?
Aws-cdk has a maintenance score of 100/100. Aws-cdk scores 100/100 and Pulumi scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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