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Comparison guide

Npm vs Yarn

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

Npm leads across all categories in this comparison. Check the detailed metrics below to see how each package performs for your specific needs.

  1. npm

    a package manager for JavaScript

    10.0M weekly downloads · 842.0 B gzip · Health 85/100

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  2. yarn

    📦🐈 Fast, reliable, and secure dependency management.

    5.3M weekly downloads · 1.5 MB gzip · Health 67/100

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Choosing between Npm and Yarn? 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

Npm leads with 10.0M weekly downloads — roughly 1.9x more. Yarn has 5.3M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Npm has the smallest gzipped bundle at 842.0 B. Yarn comes in at 1.5 MB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Npm has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Yarn has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), 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 Npm if you value large community support, minimal bundle footprint, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Yarn if you value large community support, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Npm and Yarn are solid choices for JavaScript development. Npm 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 npm better than yarn?
It depends on your needs. Npm has a health score of 85/100 while Yarn scores 67/100. Npm has more recorded weekly downloads (10.0M). Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, npm or yarn?
Npm has the smaller gzipped bundle at 842.0 B. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use npm vs yarn?
Npm has more recorded weekly downloads (10.0M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, npm or yarn?
Npm has a maintenance score of 100/100. Npm scores 100/100 and Yarn scores 40/100 on maintenance.

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