ramda
A practical functional library for JavaScript programmers.
15.8M weekly downloads · 14.1 KB gzip · Health 67/100
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Comparison guide
Ramda vs Underscore
Side-by-side NPM package comparison
Quick Verdict
Smallest Bundle
Underscore
7.3 KB gzipped
Most Popular
Underscore
36.2M weekly downloads
Best Maintained
Ramda
40/100 maintenance score
Highest Quality
Ramda
50/100 quality score
Overall Pick
Underscore
Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality
underscore
JavaScript's functional programming helper library.
36.2M weekly downloads · 7.3 KB gzip · Health 67/100
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Choosing between Ramda 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
Underscore leads with 36.2M weekly downloads — roughly 2.3x more. Ramda has 15.8M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.
Bundle Size
Underscore has the smallest gzipped bundle at 7.3 KB. Ramda comes in at 14.1 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.
Health Score Comparison
Ramda has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. Underscore 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 Ramda if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record. Choose Underscore if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record.
Our Verdict
Both Ramda and Underscore are solid choices for JavaScript development. Ramda 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 ramda better than underscore?
- It depends on your needs. Ramda has a health score of 67/100 while Underscore scores 67/100. Underscore has more recorded weekly downloads (36.2M). Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
- Which has a smaller bundle size, ramda 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 ramda vs underscore?
- Underscore has more recorded weekly downloads (36.2M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
- Which is better maintained, ramda or underscore?
- Ramda has a maintenance score of 40/100. Ramda scores 40/100 and Underscore scores 40/100 on maintenance.
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