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Comparison guide

@huggingface/transformers vs Onnxruntime-web

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

Onnxruntime-web

105.9 KB gzipped

Most Popular

Onnxruntime-web

5.9M weekly downloads

Best Maintained

@huggingface/transformers

100/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

@huggingface/transformers

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Onnxruntime-web

Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality

  1. @huggingface/transformers

    State-of-the-art Machine Learning for the web. Run 🤗 Transformers directly in your browser, with no need for a server!

    4.1M weekly downloads · 161.2 KB gzip · Health 85/100

    0
  2. onnxruntime-web

    A Javascript library for running ONNX models on browsers

    5.9M weekly downloads · 105.9 KB gzip · Health 85/100

    0

Choosing between @huggingface/transformers and Onnxruntime-web? 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

Onnxruntime-web leads with 5.9M weekly downloads — roughly 1.5x more. @huggingface/transformers has 4.1M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Onnxruntime-web has the smallest gzipped bundle at 105.9 KB. @huggingface/transformers comes in at 161.2 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

@huggingface/transformers has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Onnxruntime-web has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose @huggingface/transformers if you value large community support, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Onnxruntime-web if you value large community support, actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both @huggingface/transformers and Onnxruntime-web are solid choices for JavaScript development. @huggingface/transformers 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 @huggingface/transformers better than onnxruntime-web?
It depends on your needs. @huggingface/transformers has a health score of 85/100 while Onnxruntime-web scores 85/100. Onnxruntime-web has more recorded weekly downloads (5.9M). Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, @huggingface/transformers or onnxruntime-web?
Onnxruntime-web has the smaller gzipped bundle at 105.9 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use @huggingface/transformers vs onnxruntime-web?
Onnxruntime-web has more recorded weekly downloads (5.9M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, @huggingface/transformers or onnxruntime-web?
@huggingface/transformers has a maintenance score of 100/100. @huggingface/transformers scores 100/100 and Onnxruntime-web scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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