pnpm vs yarn

Side-by-side comparison of pnpm and yarn

pnpm v10.29.1 MIT
Weekly Downloads
47.5M
Stars
33.9K
Gzip Size
1.5 kB
License
MIT
Last Updated
31m ago
Open Issues
2.1K
Forks
1.3K
Unpacked Size
17.6 MB
Dependencies
1
yarn v1.22.22 BSD-2-Clause
Weekly Downloads
7.2M
Stars
41.6K
Gzip Size
License
BSD-2-Clause
Last Updated
1d ago
Open Issues
2.1K
Forks
2.7K
Unpacked Size
5.3 MB
Dependencies

Download Trends

Download trends for pnpm and yarn045.8M91.5M137.3M183.0MFeb 25May 25Aug 25Nov 25Feb 26
pnpm
yarn

Verdict

pnpm excels in speed and efficiency, making it suitable for large projects and teams focused on optimizing disk space usage. With significantly higher weekly downloads and a growing community, it appeals to developers seeking rapid dependency management while keeping resource consumption low.

On the other hand, yarn offers a secure and reliable option for dependency management, boasting a larger number of GitHub stars which indicates a well-established community. It is well-suited for projects where stability and proven methodologies are valued, particularly among teams with more traditional practices.

When considering migration, users may find that pnpm's more complex features may require additional learning, while yarn's established usage patterns could facilitate quicker onboarding for teams familiar with it. Weighing project size and team experience against feature sets will guide the final decision.

Detailed Comparison

Criteria pnpm yarn
License MIT, widely permissive and user-friendly. BSD-2-Clause, similarly permissive but less common.
Version Latest version 10.29.1, indicating ongoing updates. Stable version 1.22.22, but with fewer recent updates.
Categories Clearly categorized as a package manager. Also categorized similarly, making them directly comparable.
Description Focuses on speed and disk space efficiency. Emphasizes reliability and security in dependency management.
Open Issues 2.1K open issues, which is manageable but substantial. Also has 2.1K open issues, showing similar levels of community feedback.
GitHub Forks 1.3K forks, indicating good potential for custom contributions. 2.7K forks, suggesting a larger pool of derived work.
GitHub Stars 33.9K stars, showing notable community interest. 41.6K stars, reflecting substantial developer support.
Unpacked Size 17.6 MB, larger size may suggest more features or complexity. 5.3 MB, presenting a lighter package for simpler needs.
Topics Coverage Covers a wide range of topics related to modern package management. Focuses on JavaScript and npm specifics, with a narrower scope.
Weekly Downloads 47.5M downloads, indicating strong adoption. 7.2M downloads, suggesting a smaller user base.
Bundle Size (gzip) 1.5 kB, efficient for browser usage. Not listed, but generally heavier than pnpm.

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