Commander vs Yargs

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

commander

Extremely Popular

Version 14.0.3

85
Excellent

the complete solution for node.js command-line programs

Weekly Downloads
301.4M
↑30%
Bundle (gzip)
11.3 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

yargs

Extremely Popular

Version 18.0.0

67
Good

yargs the modern, pirate-themed, successor to optimist.

Weekly Downloads
161.2M
↑29%
Bundle (gzip)
31.2 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
40
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Commander and Yargs? 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

Commander leads with 301.4M weekly downloads — roughly 1.9x more. Yargs has 161.2M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Commander has the smallest gzipped bundle at 11.3 KB. Yargs comes in at 31.2 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Commander has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Yargs has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Commander if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Yargs if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Commander and Yargs are solid choices for JavaScript development. Commander 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 commander better than yargs?
It depends on your needs. Commander has a health score of 85/100 while Yargs scores 67/100. Commander has more weekly downloads (301.4M), 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, commander or yargs?
Commander has the smaller gzipped bundle at 11.3 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use commander vs yargs?
Based on npm download statistics, Commander has approximately 301.4M weekly downloads and Yargs has approximately 161.2M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, commander or yargs?
Commander currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Commander has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Yargs scores 40/100 on maintenance.