Npm vs pnpm vs yarn vs bun vs deno

In the modern JavaScript ecosystem, we have more tools than ever to manage dependencies or run code. But between npm, pnpm, Yarn, Bun, and Deno, which one should you use? Each solves different problems, and understanding their trade-offs can improve your project's performance and developer experience.

📦 Npm: the default standard

npm is the original Node.js package manager and still the most widely used.

✅ Pros

• Preinstalled with Node.js.
• Massive community and ecosystem.
• Works with package-lock.json for reproducible builds.

❌ Cons

• Slower than newer alternatives.
• Inefficient caching and disk usage.
• Flat installs can lead to version conflicts.

npm install axios

⚡ Pnpm: fast and space-efficient

pnpm installs packages using symlinks and a global store, saving disk space and boosting speed.

✅ Pros

• Very fast, especially in monorepos.
• Prevents dependency duplication.
• Space-efficient (shared packages).
• Native monorepo support with filtering.

❌ Cons

• Slight learning curve if coming from npm.
• Some scripts need adjustment.

pnpm install axios

🧠 If you care about performance and use monorepos (like Nx or Turborepo), pnpm is a strong choice.

🧶 Yarn: once a fast npm alternative

Launched by Facebook in 2016, Yarn solved npm's reliability and speed issues.

✅ Pros

• Deterministic yarn.lock file.
• Great support for workspaces (v1).
• Plugin system for advanced customization.
• Yarn v4+ eliminates node_modules with Plug'n'Play.

❌ Cons

• Yarn v2+ ("Berry") changed a lot → steeper learning curve.
• Requires plugins for basic behaviors (like node_modules).

yarn add axios

📌 Still solid, but many devs have switched to pnpm for simplicity and speed.

⚙️ Bun: runtime, bundler, and package manager

Bun is a modern JavaScript runtime built with Zig, aiming to replace Node, npm, and even bundlers like Webpack.

✅ Pros

• Extremely fast (both install and runtime).
• One tool to handle installs, scripts, and bundling.
• Mostly npm-compatible.

❌ Cons

• Still maturing.
• Incompatibilities with some Node packages.

bun add axios

🚀 Ideal for modern projects, fast prototyping, or fullstack development.

🌐 Deno: secure runtime with native typescript

Created by the same developer behind Node.js, Deno aims to fix Node's design flaws. With Deno 2.0, it now supports npm packages while maintaining its security-first approach.

✅ Pros

• Import from URLs or npm packages.
• Secure by default (no file/net access without flags).
• Native TypeScript support.
• Deno 2.0 has Node.js and npm compatibility.

❌ Cons

• Smaller ecosystem compared to Node.js.
• Still growing adoption.

# URL imports (classic Deno way)
import axios from "https://esm.sh/axios";

# npm packages (Deno 2.0+)
deno install npm:axios

🔒 Great for scripts, microservices, or sandboxed environments.

🧠 Which one should you use?

🔚 Conclusion

There's no universal winner. If you're starting a new project:

• Use pnpm for Node-based apps or monorepos.
• Try Bun for an all-in-one modern dev setup.
• Use Deno for secure, minimal TypeScript services or when you need npm compatibility with security benefits.
• Stick with npm if you want simplicity and wide compatibility.