npm vs Yarn vs pnpm vs Bun: Choosing the Right Package Manager

Package managers are tools that help you install, update, and manage the libraries (packages) your project depends on. Think of them as app stores for code. While they all do the same basic job, they differ in speed, disk usage, and features.

The Players

npm (Node Package Manager)

The original and default package manager that comes with Node.js. If you've installed Node.js, you already have npm.

Pros:

• Comes pre-installed with Node.js
• Largest ecosystem and community
• Works everywhere, no setup needed

Cons:

• Slower than alternatives
• Uses more disk space (duplicates packages)
• Can be inconsistent across different machines

Yarn

Created by Facebook to solve npm's early problems. Yarn Classic (v1) is stable and widely used. Yarn Berry (v2+) is a complete rewrite with new features.

Pros:

• Faster than npm
• Offline mode - works without internet
• Better security with checksums
• Workspaces for managing multiple packages

Cons:

• Yarn Berry has a learning curve
• Some compatibility issues with certain packages
• Extra tool to install

pnpm (Performant npm)

Uses a clever trick: instead of copying packages for each project, pnpm stores them once and creates links. This saves tons of disk space.

Pros:

• Incredibly fast installations
• Saves massive amounts of disk space
• Strict with dependencies (catches errors early)
• Great for monorepos

Cons:

• Symlinks can confuse some tools
• Smaller community than npm/Yarn
• Strict mode can break poorly configured packages

Bun

The new kid on the block. Bun isn't just a package manager - it's also a runtime and bundler. Built with Zig for maximum speed.

Pros:

• Blazingly fast (often 10-20x faster)
• All-in-one toolkit (runtime + bundler + package manager)
• Compatible with npm packages
• Built-in testing and bundling

Cons:

• Still relatively new (less mature)
• Smaller ecosystem
• Some npm packages don't work yet

Quick Comparison

Common Commands

Here's how to do the same tasks with each tool:

# Install dependencies
npm install
yarn install
pnpm install
bun install

# Add a package
npm install react
yarn add react
pnpm add react
bun add react

# Remove a package
npm uninstall react
yarn remove react
pnpm remove react
bun remove react

# Update packages
npm update
yarn upgrade
pnpm update
bun update

# Run a script
npm run dev
yarn dev
pnpm dev
bun dev

Which Should You Use?

Choose npm if:

• You're just starting out
• You want zero setup
• You're working on simple projects
• Maximum compatibility is important

Choose Yarn if:

• You work with monorepos
• You need offline support
• You want a good balance of speed and stability
• Your team already uses it

Choose pnpm if:

• You have limited disk space
• You work with many projects on one machine
• You want the fastest install times
• You manage a monorepo

Choose Bun if:

• You want cutting-edge performance
• You're starting a new project
• You want an all-in-one toolkit
• You're okay with occasional compatibility issues

My Recommendation

For most developers: Start with npm, learn the basics, then try pnpm or Yarn when you need speed or better monorepo support.

For new projects in 2025: pnpm is my go-to. It's fast, stable, and the disk space savings are incredible when you work on multiple projects.

For experimentation: Bun is exciting and impressively fast. Keep an eye on it, but verify compatibility for production projects.

Quick Migration Tips

Switching is easier than you think:

1. Delete old files:

   rm -rf node_modules
   rm package-lock.json  # for npm
   rm yarn.lock          # for Yarn
   rm pnpm-lock.yaml     # for pnpm
   rm bun.lockb          # for Bun

2. Install with new package manager:

   pnpm install  # or yarn, or bun install

3. Update your CI/CD scripts to use the new package manager

4. Commit the new lock file

That's it! Your package.json stays the same.

Final Thoughts

There's no "best" package manager - it depends on your needs. npm is reliable and universal. Yarn and pnpm offer better performance. Bun is the future (maybe).

Try them out, see what fits your workflow. Most importantly: pick one and stick with it for consistency across your project.

Happy coding!