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Comparison guide

Pnpm vs Yarn

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Hero image for Pnpm vs Yarn

Quick Verdict

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

pnpm icon

pnpm

Niche

Version 11.24.0

0
67
Good

Fast, disk space efficient package manager

Weekly Downloads
0

Trend data unavailable

Bundle (gzip)
1002.0 B
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
10
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70
yarn icon

yarn

Niche

Version 1.22.22

0
49
Fair

📦🐈 Fast, reliable, and secure dependency management.

Weekly Downloads
0

Trend data unavailable

Bundle (gzip)
1.5 MB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
40
Popularity
10
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Pnpm 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

Pnpm and Yarn both have 0 weekly downloads, indicating equal adoption in the ecosystem.

Bundle Size

Pnpm has the smallest gzipped bundle at 1002.0 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

Pnpm has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong maintenance, security scores. Yarn 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 Pnpm if you value minimal bundle footprint, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Yarn if you value strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Pnpm and Yarn are solid choices for JavaScript development. Pnpm 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 pnpm better than yarn?
It depends on your needs. Pnpm has a health score of 67/100 while Yarn scores 49/100. Pnpm 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, pnpm or yarn?
Pnpm has the smaller gzipped bundle at 1002.0 B. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use pnpm vs yarn?
Based on npm download statistics, Pnpm has approximately 0 weekly downloads and Yarn has approximately 0 weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, pnpm or yarn?
Pnpm currently has the higher overall health score at 67/100. Pnpm has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Yarn scores 40/100 on maintenance.

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One PDF: the best package for every category (ORMs, bundlers, auth, testing, state management). Used by 500+ devs. Free, updated monthly.