ava vs vitest

Side-by-side comparison of ava and vitest

ava v6.4.1 MIT
Weekly Downloads
580.2K
Stars
20.9K
Gzip Size
942 B
License
MIT
Last Updated
3mo ago
Open Issues
63
Forks
1.4K
Unpacked Size
289.4 kB
Dependencies
1
vitest v4.0.18 MIT
Weekly Downloads
30.6M
Stars
15.9K
Gzip Size
License
MIT
Last Updated
9h ago
Open Issues
350
Forks
1.6K
Unpacked Size
1.5 MB
Dependencies

Download Trends

Download trends for ava and vitest025.8M51.6M77.3M103.1MFeb 25May 25Aug 25Nov 25Feb 26
ava
vitest

Verdict

ava is designed for developers looking for a straightforward, minimalistic Node.js test runner that focuses on simplicity and performance, particularly in asynchronous testing. It serves well for smaller projects or teams that appreciate a TDD approach with a concise API. On the other hand, vitest leverages Vite's underlying architecture, catering to teams focused on modern JavaScript frameworks and offering extensive features for larger codebases.

When deciding between the two, consider your project's context. If your team is experienced with Vite and requires a feature-rich testing framework that can handle extensive test suites efficiently, vitest is a solid choice. However, for projects that prioritize simplicity and quick setup, especially for unit testing, ava may be the better option.

It's worth noting that transitioning from one framework to another can lead to a learning curve, particularly for teams accustomed to either platform's testing paradigms. If your project structure is already aligned with Vite, incorporating vitest might be more seamless than adapting to ava's conventions.

Detailed Comparison

Criteria ava vitest
Version Ava is on version 6.4.1, which indicates maturity. Vitest is at version 4.0.18, showing active development.
Categories Ava is focused solely on Testing. Vitest also focuses on Testing but is touted for next-generation development.
Open Issues Ava has fewer open issues at 62, suggesting stability. Vitest has 352 open issues, which may indicate growing pains.
GitHub Forks Ava has 1.4K forks, suggesting good community engagement. Vitest has more forks at 1.6K, indicating usage variation.
GitHub Stars Ava has 20.9K stars, reflecting solid community support. Vitest has 15.9K stars, indicating its growing popularity.
Last Updated Ava was last updated on 2025-11-05. Vitest was more recently updated on 2026-02-07.
Unpacked Size Ava's unpacked size is compact at 289.4 kB, favoring smaller projects. Vitest is larger at 1.5 MB, which may impact performance slightly for minimal projects.
Weekly Downloads Ava has 558.2K weekly downloads, showing steady use. Vitest has a significantly higher 30.7M weekly downloads.
Bundle Size (gzip) Ava is minimal at 942 B, optimizing for lower overhead. Vitest's size is not provided but may be larger given its feature set.

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