Head-to-Head Comparison
pnpm vs npm: Package Manager Comparison
pnpm is faster with efficient disk space usage. npm is the default Node.js package manager with full compatibility. pnpm for speed, npm for simplicity.
pnpm
npm
Last updated: 2025-01
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | pnpm | npm |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Large projects | Standard projects |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Very Easy |
| Speed | Fastest | Good |
| Disk Space | Efficient | Duplicates |
| Monorepo | Excellent | Basic |
| Compatibility | Excellent | Universal |
| Default | No | Yes |
pnpm
- Best For
- Large projects
- Learning Curve
- Easy
- Speed
- Fastest
- Disk Space
- Efficient
- Monorepo
- Excellent
- Compatibility
- Excellent
- Default
- No
npm
- Best For
- Standard projects
- Learning Curve
- Very Easy
- Speed
- Good
- Disk Space
- Duplicates
- Monorepo
- Basic
- Compatibility
- Universal
- Default
- Yes
Winner by Category
Best for Beginners
npmAlready installed with Node.js
Best for Customisation
pnpmMore monorepo features
Best for Speed
pnpmSignificantly faster installs
Best for Learning
npmUniversal knowledge
Best Value
TieBoth are free
Our Recommendation
Start with npm for simplicity. Switch to pnpm for larger projects and monorepos to save time and disk space.
When to Choose Each Tool
1
Choose npm
Getting started or small projects
2
Choose pnpm
Large projects or monorepos
Master Both Tools at buildDay Melbourne
Join our hands-on workshop and learn to build with the modern AI development stack. Go from idea to deployed app in a single day.