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Depcheck vs Knip

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

depcheck

Very Popular

Version 1.4.7

67
Good

Check dependencies in your node module

Weekly Downloads
1.6M
11%
Bundle (gzip)
67.6 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
40
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

knip

Very Popular

Version 5.86.0

92
Excellent

Find and fix unused dependencies, exports and files in your TypeScript and JavaScript projects

Weekly Downloads
4.6M
18%
Bundle (gzip)
438.3 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
80
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Depcheck and Knip? 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

Knip leads with 4.6M weekly downloads — roughly 2.8x more. Depcheck has 1.6M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Depcheck has the smallest gzipped bundle at 67.6 KB. Knip comes in at 438.3 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Knip has an overall health score of 92/100 (excellent), with strong maintenance, quality, security, popularity scores. Depcheck 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 Depcheck if you value large community support, strong security track record. Choose Knip if you value large community support, actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Depcheck and Knip are solid choices for JavaScript development. Knip 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 depcheck better than knip?
It depends on your needs. Depcheck has a health score of 67/100 while Knip scores 92/100. Knip has more weekly downloads (4.6M), 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, depcheck or knip?
Depcheck has the smaller gzipped bundle at 67.6 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use depcheck vs knip?
Based on npm download statistics, Depcheck has approximately 1.6M weekly downloads and Knip has approximately 4.6M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, depcheck or knip?
Knip currently has the higher overall health score at 92/100. Depcheck has a maintenance score of 40/100 and Knip scores 100/100 on maintenance.