depcheck
Check dependencies in your node module
819.7K weekly downloads · 30.4 KB gzip · Health 59/100
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Comparison guide
Depcheck vs Knip
Side-by-side NPM package comparison
Quick Verdict
Smallest Bundle
Depcheck
30.4 KB gzipped
Most Popular
Knip
10.9M weekly downloads
Best Maintained
Knip
100/100 maintenance score
Highest Quality
Knip
80/100 quality score
Overall Pick
Knip
Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality
knip
Find and fix unused dependencies, exports and files in your TypeScript and JavaScript projects
10.9M weekly downloads · 611.6 KB gzip · Health 92/100
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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 10.9M weekly downloads — roughly 13.3x more. Depcheck has 819.7K 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 30.4 KB. Knip comes in at 611.6 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 59/100 (moderate), 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 strong security track record. Choose Knip if you value massive community and ecosystem, 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 59/100 while Knip scores 92/100. Knip has more recorded weekly downloads (10.9M). Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
- Which has a smaller bundle size, depcheck or knip?
- Depcheck has the smaller gzipped bundle at 30.4 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?
- Knip has more recorded weekly downloads (10.9M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
- Which is better maintained, depcheck or knip?
- Knip has a maintenance score of 100/100. Depcheck scores 20/100 and Knip scores 100/100 on maintenance.
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