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npm vs pnpm

npm logo

npm

Software

Package manager for JavaScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
pnpm logo

pnpm

Software

Fast, disk space efficient package manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: npm private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only; pnpm smaller ecosystem and community compared to npm

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which npm and pnpm actually diverge.

Attributes where npm and pnpm differ
Attributenpmpnpm
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxLinux, Windows, macOS
Founded20142017

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

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 npm

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

Only in pnpm

Nothing recorded that npm does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

npm

  • Package managementnot pnpm
  • Dependency installationnot pnpm
  • Project scaffoldingnot pnpm
  • Build automationnot pnpm
  • Package publishingnot pnpm
  • Version controlnot pnpm

pnpm

No use cases recorded yet. See the pnpm review.

Where each one falls short

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

npm

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

pnpm

  • Smaller ecosystem and community compared to npm
  • Symlink-based approach can cause issues in some Windows environments

Pricing, plan by plan

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

pnpm

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the pnpm review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose pnpm if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
pnpm review

Questions people ask

Is npm or pnpm better?
Neither clearly leads. npm starts at Free and pnpm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, npm or pnpm?
npm starts at Free and pnpm at Free.
Does npm or pnpm run on more platforms?
npm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. pnpm runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
Can I use npm for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is npm best used for?
npm is most often used for package management, dependency installation, project scaffolding, build automation. Of those, package management and dependency installation are not what pnpm is typically brought in for.
What can npm do that pnpm cannot?
npm covers Package installation, Dependency management, Version management, Script running.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

pnpm: Is pnpm free and open source?

Yes. pnpm is free and open source software developed for Node.js. Version 10 and 11 are currently available.

Source
pnpm: How does pnpm save disk space?

pnpm uses a content-addressable store with hard linking and symlinks to avoid duplication. All files are saved in a single place on disk and hard-linked to individual projects, dramatically reducing storage requirements compared to npm.

Source
pnpm: Is pnpm faster than npm?

Yes. pnpm performs installation in three stages: dependency resolution, directory structure calculation, and linking. Packages are fetched and linked as soon as possible, making it significantly faster than npm's sequential approach.

Source
pnpm: Does pnpm support monorepos?

Yes. pnpm has built-in support for monorepositories. You can create a workspace using pnpm-workspace.yaml to unite multiple projects in a single repository.

Source
pnpm: How does pnpm handle node_modules differently than npm?

pnpm uses symlinks to add only direct dependencies to node_modules root, preventing accidental access to undeclared dependencies. This encourages more explicit dependency management compared to npm's flattened node_modules structure.

Source
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