Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Package Managers

npm vs Yarn

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score npm #1 in Package Managers 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit npm
Yarn #3 in Package Managers 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Yarn

npm leads on 0 checks, Yarn on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorenpm · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth

npm scores higher on our rubric for package managers: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

npm is the better fit for javaScript package discovery and publishing. Yarn is the better fit for reliable JavaScript dependency installs.

  • npm fits best

    JavaScript package discovery and publishing

  • Yarn fits best

    Reliable JavaScript dependency installs

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature npm 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Yarn 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.0
Ranking #1 in Package Managers #3 in Package Managers
Best for JavaScript package discovery and publishing Reliable JavaScript dependency installs
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $7/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Integrations 3 integrations 3 integrations
Features npm 5/5 · Yarn 5/5
Dependency resolution ✓ ✓
Lockfile support ✓ ✓
Workspace support ✓ ✓
Private registry auth ✓ ✓
Offline installation ✓ ✓
Specs
Package formats package.json folders, gzipped tarballs, URLs, name@version, name@tag, Git URLs npm packages; tarballs; local, Git, link, patch, portal, and workspace references
Supported platforms macOS, Windows, Linux, and other operating systems via Node.js installers or version managers Linux, macOS, Windows
Our review
Pros
  • Combines discovery, installation, publishing, and dependency resolution.
  • Supports lockfiles, workspaces, caching, offline mode, and npx.
  • Works across web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and private registries.
  • Lockfile validation and immutable installs support consistent dependency state.
  • Workspaces help organize JavaScript monorepositories.
  • Caching, parallel processing, and offline installs support faster workflows.
Cons
  • Private package installation and publishing requires the $7/month paid account.
  • Its focus is JavaScript and Node.js package workflows.
  • Advanced registry setups may require authentication and configuration.
  • Choosing between Modern Yarn 4+ and Classic 1.x requires line-specific decisions.
  • Plug'n'Play and node_modules strategies introduce configuration choices.
  • Private registry access requires credentials or authentication tokens.
Our verdict

npm brings together a package discovery website, command-line interface, and registry for JavaScript and Node.js software. It suits developers who need to find dependencies, install them into projects, manage versions, publish packages, or…

Read the review →

Yarn is an open-source package manager and project manager for JavaScript projects. It handles dependency resolution and installation, updates, configuration, and removal through npm packages. The published capabilities fit individual…

Read the review →
  1. npmPackage Managers 9.4Free plan
  2. YarnPackage Managers 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • npm — where it wins

    • Combines discovery, installation, publishing, and dependency resolution.
    • Supports lockfiles, workspaces, caching, offline mode, and npx.
    • Works across web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and private registries.

    Where it doesn't

    • Private package installation and publishing requires the $7/month paid account.
    • Its focus is JavaScript and Node.js package workflows.
    • Advanced registry setups may require authentication and configuration.

  • Yarn — where it wins

    • Lockfile validation and immutable installs support consistent dependency state.
    • Workspaces help organize JavaScript monorepositories.
    • Caching, parallel processing, and offline installs support faster workflows.

    Where it doesn't

    • Choosing between Modern Yarn 4+ and Classic 1.x requires line-specific decisions.
    • Plug'n'Play and node_modules strategies introduce configuration choices.
    • Private registry access requires credentials or authentication tokens.
  • npm9.4/10 · Free plan

    A complete JavaScript package workflow with public access free and private packages at $7/month.

    Visit npmFull verdict →
  • Yarn9.0/10 · Free plan

    A capable JavaScript package manager for consistent installs and monorepositories.

    Visit YarnFull verdict →

More comparisons

All package managers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update