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Comparison guide

Bun-shell vs Zx

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

Bun-shell

62.0 B gzipped

Most Popular

Zx

1.1M weekly downloads

Best Maintained

Bun-shell

20/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

Bun-shell

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Zx

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

  1. bun-shell

    2 weekly downloads · 62.0 B gzip · Health 43/100

    0
  2. zx

    A tool for writing better scripts

    1.1M weekly downloads · 117.8 KB gzip · Health 61/100

    0

Choosing between Bun-shell and Zx? 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

Zx leads with 1.1M weekly downloads — roughly 538081.5x more. Bun-shell has 2 weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Bun-shell has the smallest gzipped bundle at 62.0 B. Zx comes in at 117.8 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Zx has an overall health score of 61/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. Bun-shell has an overall health score of 43/100 (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 Bun-shell if you value minimal bundle footprint, strong security track record. Choose Zx if you value large community support, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Bun-shell and Zx are solid choices for JavaScript development. Zx has the edge in overall health score (61/100), 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 bun-shell better than zx?
It depends on your needs. Bun-shell has a health score of 43/100 while Zx scores 61/100. Zx has more recorded weekly downloads (1.1M). Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, bun-shell or zx?
Bun-shell has the smaller gzipped bundle at 62.0 B. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use bun-shell vs zx?
Zx has more recorded weekly downloads (1.1M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, bun-shell or zx?
Bun-shell has a maintenance score of 20/100. Bun-shell scores 20/100 and Zx scores 20/100 on maintenance.

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