Npm vs Yarn vs Pnpm: Key Differences in Node.js Package Managers

In Node.js, npm, Yarn, and pnpm are popular package managers that handle dependencies differently. npm is the default with good compatibility, Yarn offers faster installs and better caching, while pnpm uses a unique disk-saving method with symlinks for efficient storage and speed.

Quick Comparison

Here is a quick side-by-side comparison of npm, Yarn, and pnpm based on key factors important for Node.js developers.

Feature	npm	Yarn	pnpm
Default package manager	Yes (comes with Node.js)	No (needs install)	No (needs install)
Installation speed	Moderate	Faster due to caching	Fastest with efficient linking
Disk space usage	Higher (duplicates packages)	Moderate	Lowest (uses symlinks)
Lockfile format	package-lock.json	yarn.lock	pnpm-lock.yaml
Workspace support	Basic (npm workspaces)	Good (Yarn workspaces)	Excellent (pnpm workspaces)
Community & ecosystem	Largest	Large	Growing

Key Differences

npm is the original Node.js package manager and comes pre-installed with Node.js. It uses a flat node_modules structure but can lead to duplicated packages, which increases disk space usage. Its lockfile package-lock.json ensures consistent installs.

Yarn was created to improve speed and reliability. It uses caching aggressively to speed up installs and has its own lockfile yarn.lock. Yarn workspaces help manage multiple packages in one repo efficiently.

pnpm stands out by using a unique method of storing packages in a global content-addressable store and linking them into projects with symlinks. This saves disk space and speeds up installs. Its lockfile pnpm-lock.yaml and workspace support are designed for monorepos and large projects.

npm Code Example

Installing a package and running a script with npm:

bash

npm init -y
npm install lodash

// package.json scripts section
"scripts": {
  "start": "node index.js"
}

// index.js
const _ = require('lodash');
console.log(_.capitalize('hello world'));

Output

Hello world

Yarn Equivalent

Doing the same with Yarn:

bash

yarn init -y
yarn add lodash

// package.json scripts section
"scripts": {
  "start": "node index.js"
}

// index.js
const _ = require('lodash');
console.log(_.capitalize('hello world'));

Output

Hello world

When to Use Which

Choose npm if you want the default, widely supported package manager with good compatibility and no extra setup.

Choose Yarn if you want faster installs with caching and better workspace support for medium to large projects.

Choose pnpm if you want the fastest installs, minimal disk space usage, and excellent monorepo support with symlinked packages.

Key Takeaways

npm is the default and most compatible package manager for Node.js.

Yarn improves speed and caching with better workspace features.

pnpm saves disk space and speeds installs using symlinks and a global store.

Use pnpm for large projects or monorepos to optimize performance and storage.

Choose based on your project size, speed needs, and disk space considerations.