Skip to main content

Comparison guide

Serverless vs Terraform

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

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

  1. serverless

    [![Serverless Framework AWS Lambda AWS DynamoDB AWS API Gateway](https://github.com/serverless/serverless/assets/2752551/66a8c6a9-bc4a-4116-b139-90c12963337e)](https://serverless.com)

    1.6M weekly downloads · 11.7 KB gzip · Health 85/100

    0

  2. terraform

    pre-processor engine that powers the harp web server

    4.3K weekly downloads · 936.1 KB gzip · Health 61/100

    0

Choosing between Serverless and Terraform? 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

Serverless leads with 1.6M weekly downloads — roughly 379.5x more. Terraform has 4.3K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Serverless has the smallest gzipped bundle at 11.7 KB. Terraform comes in at 936.1 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Serverless has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Terraform has an overall health score of 61/100 (good), with strong security scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Serverless if you value large community support, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Terraform if you value strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Serverless and Terraform are solid choices for JavaScript development. Serverless 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 serverless better than terraform?
It depends on your needs. Serverless has a health score of 85/100 while Terraform scores 61/100. Serverless has more recorded weekly downloads (1.6M). Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, serverless or terraform?
Serverless has the smaller gzipped bundle at 11.7 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use serverless vs terraform?
Serverless has more recorded weekly downloads (1.6M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, serverless or terraform?
Serverless has a maintenance score of 100/100. Serverless scores 100/100 and Terraform scores 60/100 on maintenance.

Related Comparisons

Aws-cdk vs Serverless

The 2026 JavaScript Stack Cheatsheet

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