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Comparison guide

Lodash vs Underscore

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Hero image for Lodash vs Underscore

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

Underscore

7.3 KB gzipped

Most Popular

Lodash

0 weekly downloads

Best Maintained

Lodash

100/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

Lodash

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Underscore

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

lodash icon

lodash

Niche

Version 4.18.1

0
67
Good

Lodash modular utilities.

Weekly Downloads
0

Trend data unavailable

Bundle (gzip)
24.7 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
10
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Version 1.13.8

0
49
Fair

JavaScript's functional programming helper library.

Weekly Downloads
0

Trend data unavailable

Bundle (gzip)
7.3 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
40
Popularity
10
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Lodash and Underscore? 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

Lodash and Underscore both have 0 weekly downloads, indicating equal adoption in the ecosystem.

Bundle Size

Underscore has the smallest gzipped bundle at 7.3 KB. Lodash comes in at 24.7 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Lodash has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong maintenance, security scores. Underscore has an overall health score of 49/100 (moderate), with strong security scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Lodash if you value actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Underscore if you value strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Lodash and Underscore are solid choices for JavaScript development. Lodash has the edge in overall health score (67/100), 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 lodash better than underscore?
It depends on your needs. Lodash has a health score of 67/100 while Underscore scores 49/100. Lodash has more weekly downloads (0), 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, lodash or underscore?
Underscore has the smaller gzipped bundle at 7.3 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use lodash vs underscore?
Based on npm download statistics, Lodash has approximately 0 weekly downloads and Underscore has approximately 0 weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, lodash or underscore?
Lodash currently has the higher overall health score at 67/100. Lodash has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Underscore scores 40/100 on maintenance.

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