esbuild vs rollup
Side-by-side comparison of esbuild and rollup
- Weekly Downloads
- 106.9M
- Stars
- 39.7K
- Gzip Size
- 14.8 kB
- License
- MIT
- Last Updated
- 2d ago
- Open Issues
- 586
- Forks
- 1.3K
- Unpacked Size
- 135.3 kB
- Dependencies
- 1
- Weekly Downloads
- 69.7M
- Stars
- 26.2K
- Gzip Size
- 167.9 kB
- License
- MIT
- Last Updated
- 2d ago
- Open Issues
- 598
- Forks
- 1.7K
- Unpacked Size
- 2.8 MB
- Dependencies
- 2
Download Trends
Verdict
esbuild excels in speed and efficiency, making it suitable for projects that prioritize fast bundling and minification of JavaScript and CSS. It serves developers looking for high performance in build tools, especially in environments involving React and TypeScript.
In contrast, Rollup is tailored for ES module bundling and provides a flexible ecosystem for building libraries and applications that utilize modern JavaScript standards. It may be a better fit for teams who need extensive plugins and configurations, particularly for complex projects where modularity and tree-shaking are critical.
Considering migration, switching to esbuild from Rollup may require some adaptation, especially if your project heavily relies on Rollup's specific plugin ecosystem. Conversely, if you prioritize performance and minimal configuration, esbuild presents a compelling option, especially for new projects or simpler codebases.
Detailed Comparison
| Criteria | esbuild | rollup |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | ✓Highly optimized for fast builds and minification. | Slower compared to esbuild, optimized for module bundling. |
| Use Case | Ideal for performance-driven applications and quick setups. | Best suited for modular library development and extensive configurations. |
| Bundle Size | ✓Minimal at 14.8 kB gzip, efficient output. | Larger at 167.9 kB gzip, more overhead. |
| Open Issues | ✓586 outstanding issues, indicating active development challenges. | 598 issues, slightly more than esbuild. |
| GitHub Stars | ✓Significant community support at 39.7K stars. | Decent following with 26.2K stars, but less than esbuild. |
| Last Updated | Recently updated on 2026-02-05, indicating active maintenance. | Also recently updated on 2026-02-06, showing similar maintenance. |
| Unpacked Size | ✓Small at 135.3 kB, beneficial for quick installations. | Larger at 2.8 MB, representing more components. |
| Learning Curve | ✓Intuitive setup and configuration, minimal barriers. | More complex due to extensive features and plugins. |
| Plugin Ecosystem | Limited plugin options but focused functionality. | ✓Rich plugin ecosystem accommodating diverse needs. |
| Weekly Downloads | ✓High usage with 105.8M weekly downloads indicating strong adoption. | Moderate at 69.6M, still popular but lower than esbuild. |
| TypeScript Support | ✓Built with TypeScript in mind, excellent support. | Supports TypeScript but not as optimized as esbuild. |