npm vs Yarn vs pnpm: Complete JavaScript Package Manager Guide (2026)

It is impossible to imagine the development of JavaScript without package managers nowadays. Whether it is a basic React web app or an application scale Node.js backend, package managers can assist in installing, updating and maintaining dependencies in the most efficient way.

The three most popular packages are npm, Yarn, and pnpm, which belong to the JavaScript ecosystem. Although they all address the same issue, they vary greatly on the basis of performance, disk utilization, dependency resolution, and the experience of the developers.

This paper takes an in-depth look at npm, Yarn, and pnpm, and compares them to make the choice between them.

What Is a Package Manager?

A package manager is a tool that:

• Downloads libraries (packages) from a registry

• Resolves dependencies and versions

• Installs them in your project

• Ensures consistent builds across environments

All the three tools use the default package registry npm Registry in JavaScript.

1. npm (Node Package Manager)

Overview

npm is the package manager of Node.js which is the default package manager of nodenpm and it is included with node.

• Released: 2010

• Maintained by: GitHub (Microsoft)

• Registry: npmjs.com

Key Features

• Comes preinstalled with Node.js

• Huge ecosystem (over 2 million packages)

• Supports workspaces (monorepos)

• Lockfile: package-lock.json

How npm Works

• Installs dependencies inside node_modules

• Creates a nested dependency tree

• Can cause duplicated dependencies across packages

Common Commands

npm install
npm install express
npm run dev
npm update
npm uninstall lodash

Pros

• Default and widely supported
• No extra installation required
• Good tooling and documentation
• Stable and reliable

Cons

• Slower than Yarn and pnpm (historically)
• Larger node_modules size
• Flat installs can still cause conflicts

2. Yarn

Overview

Yarn was created by Facebook in 2016 to address npm’s performance and reliability issues.

• Maintained by: Open Source Community

• Registry: npm Registry

• Lockfile: yarn.lock

Yarn Versions

• Yarn Classic (v1) – most widely used

• Yarn Berry (v2+) – modern, stricter, and more powerful

Key Features

• Faster installs using parallel downloads

• Deterministic dependency resolution

• Plug’n’Play (PnP) mode (no node_modules)

• Better monorepo support

Common Commands

yarn install
yarn add react
yarn remove axios
yarn dev

Pros

• Faster than npm
• Better dependency consistency
• Strong monorepo support
• Offline cache

Cons

• Yarn Berry has a learning curve
• PnP may break older tools
• Extra setup compared to npm

3. pnpm (Performant npm)

Overview

pnpm is a modern package manager focused on speed and disk efficiency.

• Released: 2017

• Registry: npm Registry

• Lockfile: pnpm-lock.yaml

How pnpm Is Different

pnpm uses a content-addressable store:

• Packages are stored once globally

• Projects use hard links / symlinks

• No duplicate packages across projects

Key Features

• Extremely fast installs

• Minimal disk usage

• Strict dependency isolation

• Excellent monorepo support

Common Commands

pnpm install
pnpm add next
pnpm remove lodash
pnpm dev

Pros

• Fastest among all
• Saves massive disk space
• Prevents hidden dependency bugs
• Ideal for large projects and monorepos

Cons

• Some legacy tools expect flat node_modules
• Requires initial installation
• Slight learning curve for beginners

Dependency Resolution Comparison

Performance Comparison

Installation Speed (Typical)

• pnpm 🚀 fastest

• Yarn ⚡ fast

• npm 🐢 improving, but slower

Disk Usage

• npm: duplicates packages per project

• Yarn: better caching

• pnpm: stores packages once globally

Monorepo Support

All three support monorepos, but:

• npm: npm workspaces

• Yarn: industry standard for monorepos

• pnpm: best balance of performance + structure

If you’re building:

• Microservices

• Admin + Client apps

• Shared component libraries

👉 pnpm or Yarn is highly recommended.

Security Considerations

All three:

• Use npm registry

• Support npm audit / yarn audit

• Allow lockfile-based reproducible builds

pnpm adds:

• Stricter dependency access

• Prevents accidental reliance on undeclared dependencies

When Should You Use What?

Use npm if:

• You want simplicity

• You’re building small projects

• You don’t want extra tooling

Use Yarn if:

• You need better performance

• You use monorepos

• You want mature tooling

Use pnpm if:

• You care about speed and disk usage

• You manage large projects

• You want strict dependency control

Final Verdict

Conclusion

npm, Yarn, and pnpm are all excellent tools—but they shine in different scenarios.

• npm is simple and universal

• Yarn is fast and feature-rich

• pnpm is modern, efficient, and scalable

If you’re starting a new serious project today, pnpm is often the best choice.

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