Is bun better than ts-node?

It depends on your needs. Bun has a health score of 86/100 while Ts-node scores 74/100. Ts-node has more weekly downloads (45.8M), 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, bun or ts-node?

Bun has the smaller gzipped bundle at 6.1 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.

How many developers use bun vs ts-node?

Based on npm download statistics, Bun has approximately 2.8M weekly downloads and Ts-node has approximately 45.8M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.

Which is better maintained, bun or ts-node?

Bun currently has the higher overall health score at 86/100. Bun has a maintenance score of 80/100 and Ts-node scores 40/100 on maintenance.

Which is the best overall choice between Bun and Ts-node and Tsx?

Based on a weighted analysis of popularity, bundle size, maintenance, and code quality, Tsx is the overall recommended pick. It has 81.4M weekly downloads, a 153.8 KB gzipped bundle, and a health score of 92/100. However, the best choice depends on your specific project requirements.

Bun vs Ts-node vs Tsx — NPM Package Comparison

Choosing between Bun and Ts-node and Tsx? 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

Tsx leads with 81.4M weekly downloads — roughly 1.8x more. Ts-node has 45.8M weekly downloads. Bun has 2.8M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Bun has the smallest gzipped bundle at 6.1 KB. Tsx comes in at 153.8 KB. Ts-node comes in at 221.9 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Tsx has an overall health score of 92/100 (excellent), with strong maintenance, quality, security, popularity scores. Bun has an overall health score of 86/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, quality, security, popularity scores. Ts-node has an overall health score of 74/100 (good), with strong quality, security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Bun if you value large community support, strong security track record. Choose Ts-node if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record. Choose Tsx if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Bun and Ts-node and Tsx are solid choices for JavaScript development. Tsx has the edge in overall health score (92/100), 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 better than ts-node?: It depends on your needs. Bun has a health score of 86/100 while Ts-node scores 74/100. Ts-node has more weekly downloads (45.8M), 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, bun or ts-node?: Bun has the smaller gzipped bundle at 6.1 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use bun vs ts-node?: Based on npm download statistics, Bun has approximately 2.8M weekly downloads and Ts-node has approximately 45.8M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, bun or ts-node?: Bun currently has the higher overall health score at 86/100. Bun has a maintenance score of 80/100 and Ts-node scores 40/100 on maintenance.

Bun vs Ts-node vs Tsx

Quick Verdict

bun

Health Score Breakdown

ts-node

Health Score Breakdown

tsx

Health Score Breakdown

Downloads & Popularity

Bundle Size

Health Score Comparison

When to Choose Each

Our Verdict

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

The 2026 JavaScript Stack Cheatsheet