Dotenv vs Env-cmd

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

dotenv

Extremely Popular

Version 17.3.1

85
Excellent

Loads environment variables from .env file

Weekly Downloads
100.9M
↑32%
Bundle (gzip)
3.3 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

env-cmd

Very Popular

Version 11.0.0

67
Good

Executes a command using the environment variables in an env file

Weekly Downloads
1.5M
↑19%
Bundle (gzip)
16.2 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
40
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Dotenv and Env-cmd? 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

Dotenv leads with 100.9M weekly downloads — roughly 66.1x more. Env-cmd has 1.5M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Dotenv has the smallest gzipped bundle at 3.3 KB. Env-cmd comes in at 16.2 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Dotenv has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Env-cmd 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 Dotenv if you value massive community and ecosystem, minimal bundle footprint, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Env-cmd if you value large community support, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Dotenv and Env-cmd are solid choices for JavaScript development. Dotenv 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 dotenv better than env-cmd?
It depends on your needs. Dotenv has a health score of 85/100 while Env-cmd scores 67/100. Dotenv has more weekly downloads (100.9M), 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, dotenv or env-cmd?
Dotenv has the smaller gzipped bundle at 3.3 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use dotenv vs env-cmd?
Based on npm download statistics, Dotenv has approximately 100.9M weekly downloads and Env-cmd has approximately 1.5M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, dotenv or env-cmd?
Dotenv currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Dotenv has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Env-cmd scores 40/100 on maintenance.