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Lambda (AWS Serverless) vs npm

Lambda (AWS Serverless) logo

Lambda (AWS Serverless)

Software

Run code without thinking about servers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
npm logo

npm

Software

Package manager for JavaScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lambda (AWS Serverless) billed on two axes at once, $0.20 per million requests plus $0.0000166667 per GB-second of duration, so memory settings change the bill as much as traffic does; npm private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only
  • They diverge on capability: Lambda (AWS Serverless) covers Function-as-a-Service, npm covers Package installation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lambda (AWS Serverless) and npm actually diverge.

Attributes where Lambda (AWS Serverless) and npm differ
AttributeLambda (AWS Serverless)npm
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsWeb, ApiWindows, Macos, Linux

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2014).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Lambda (AWS Serverless)

  • Function-as-a-Service
  • Event-driven execution
  • Auto-scaling
  • Pay-per-use
  • Multiple languages
  • Concurrency limits
  • Dead Letter Queues
  • Environment variables

Only in npm

  • Package installation
  • Dependency management
  • Version management
  • Script running
  • Package publishing
  • Security auditing
  • Package discovery
  • CLI interface

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Lambda (AWS Serverless)

  • Event-driven functions without managing serversnot npm
  • API backends behind API Gatewaynot npm
  • Processing S3, DynamoDB, SQS and Kinesis eventsnot npm
  • Scheduled jobs without a always-on instancenot npm
  • Edge compute through Lambda@Edgenot npm

npm

  • Package managementnot Lambda (AWS Serverless)
  • Dependency installationnot Lambda (AWS Serverless)
  • Project scaffoldingnot Lambda (AWS Serverless)
  • Build automationnot Lambda (AWS Serverless)
  • Package publishingnot Lambda (AWS Serverless)
  • Version controlnot Lambda (AWS Serverless)

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Lambda (AWS Serverless)

  • Billed on two axes at once, $0.20 per million requests plus $0.0000166667 per GB-second of duration, so memory settings change the bill as much as traffic does
  • Provisioned concurrency, used to avoid cold starts, is charged separately at $0.0000041667 per GB-second whether or not the function runs
  • Ephemeral storage beyond the included 512 MB is metered
  • Lambda@Edge costs $0.60 per million requests, three times the standard request rate
  • VPC use and cross-region data transfer carry EC2 charges on top

npm

  • Private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only

Pricing, plan by plan

Lambda (AWS Serverless)

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M free requests/month
    • 400,000 GB-seconds/month
    • Always free

npm

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public packages
    • Package discovery
    • npm CLI
  • Pro$7/month
    • Unlimited private packages
    • Package analytics
    • Support
  • Teams$7/month
    • Team management
    • Organization packages
    • Audit logs

Which should you pick?

Choose Lambda (AWS Serverless) if

  • You need function-as-a-service.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want event-driven execution.
Lambda (AWS Serverless) review

Choose npm if

  • You need package installation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want dependency management.
npm review

Questions people ask

Is Lambda (AWS Serverless) or npm better?
Neither clearly leads. Lambda (AWS Serverless) starts at Free and npm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lambda (AWS Serverless) or npm?
Lambda (AWS Serverless) starts at Free and npm at Free.
Does Lambda (AWS Serverless) or npm run on more platforms?
Lambda (AWS Serverless) runs on Web, Api. npm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use Lambda (AWS Serverless) for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Lambda (AWS Serverless) best used for?
Lambda (AWS Serverless) is most often used for event-driven functions without managing servers, api backends behind api gateway, processing s3, dynamodb, sqs and kinesis events, scheduled jobs without a always-on instance. Of those, event-driven functions without managing servers and api backends behind api gateway are not what npm is typically brought in for.
What can Lambda (AWS Serverless) do that npm cannot?
Lambda (AWS Serverless) covers Function-as-a-Service, Event-driven execution, Auto-scaling, Pay-per-use. npm covers Package installation, Dependency management, Version management, Script running.
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