Electron vs Nw

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

electron

Very Popular

Version 40.6.1

85
Excellent

Build cross platform desktop apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

Weekly Downloads
2.5M
↑38%
Bundle (gzip)
391.0 B
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

nw

Niche

Version 0.108.0

73
Good

An installer for NW.js

Weekly Downloads
2.5K
Stable
Bundle (gzip)
10.3 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
40
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Electron and Nw? 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

Electron leads with 2.5M weekly downloads — roughly 978.9x more. Nw has 2.5K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Electron has the smallest gzipped bundle at 391.0 B. Nw comes in at 10.3 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Electron has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Nw has an overall health score of 73/100 (good), with strong maintenance, security scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Electron if you value large community support, minimal bundle footprint, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Nw if you value actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Electron and Nw are solid choices for JavaScript development. Electron 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 electron better than nw?
It depends on your needs. Electron has a health score of 85/100 while Nw scores 73/100. Electron has more weekly downloads (2.5M), 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, electron or nw?
Electron has the smaller gzipped bundle at 391.0 B. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use electron vs nw?
Based on npm download statistics, Electron has approximately 2.5M weekly downloads and Nw has approximately 2.5K weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, electron or nw?
Electron currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Electron has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Nw scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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