Netlify vs Vercel

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

netlify

Popular

Version 24.0.1

81
Excellent

Netlify command line tool

Weekly Downloads
380.5K
10%
Bundle (gzip)
750.2 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
80
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

vercel

Very Popular

Version 50.25.3

85
Excellent

The command-line interface for Vercel

Weekly Downloads
1.8M
44%
Bundle (gzip)
2.3 MB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Netlify and Vercel? 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

Vercel leads with 1.8M weekly downloads — roughly 4.7x more. Netlify has 380.5K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Netlify has the smallest gzipped bundle at 750.2 KB. Vercel comes in at 2.3 MB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Vercel has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Netlify has an overall health score of 81/100 (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 Netlify if you value actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Vercel if you value large community support, actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Netlify and Vercel are solid choices for JavaScript development. Vercel 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 netlify better than vercel?
It depends on your needs. Netlify has a health score of 81/100 while Vercel scores 85/100. Vercel has more weekly downloads (1.8M), 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, netlify or vercel?
Netlify has the smaller gzipped bundle at 750.2 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use netlify vs vercel?
Based on npm download statistics, Netlify has approximately 380.5K weekly downloads and Vercel has approximately 1.8M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, netlify or vercel?
Vercel currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Netlify has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Vercel scores 100/100 on maintenance.