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Bower

Free#14 of 19 in JavaScript Package ManagersPackage Managers

Bower: A focused, open-source choice for legacy front-end dependency workflows. Ranked #14 of 19 in JavaScript Package Managers by our editors (6.6/10); pricing: Open source; best for legacy front-end package workflows.

6.6/10Editor score
Visit Bower
Bower6.6 Visit Bower

At a glance

  • Editor score
    6.6 / 10
  • Pricing
    Open source
  • Best for
    Legacy front-end package workflows
  • Paid from
    Free
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
Bower screenshot

  • Where it wins

    • Installs JavaScript, CSS, HTML, fonts, images, and other web assets
    • Supports registry, Git, URL, local-folder, and Subversion endpoints
    • Offers flat dependencies, offline cache installs, and bower.json declarations

  • Where it doesn't

    • New Bower package registration is no longer supported
    • Focused on front-end web assets rather than broader package workflows
    • Uses the bower_components directory and a flat dependency graph

Our verdict on Bower

Bower is a command-line package manager for front-end web projects. It installs and tracks JavaScript, CSS, HTML, font, image, and other web components, recording project dependencies in a bower.json manifest. Its flat dependency graph places installed packages in bower_components, making it a focused fit for older front-end workflows that depend on explicit asset management. Bower runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and also provides a programmatic API.

Dependency acquisition is flexible. Packages can come from the Bower registry, Git repositories, URLs, local folders, or Subversion endpoints. The command set covers package search, lookup, installation, updates, and removal, while configuration hooks support install and uninstall workflows. Saved dependency declarations support reproducible installs, and offline installation can use the local cache. Integrations with Grunt, RequireJS, and Yeoman also make Bower relevant where those tools remain part of a front-end build process.

Bower is free and open source, but its package ecosystem has an important constraint: registering new Bower packages is no longer supported. That makes it more suitable for maintaining existing projects and consuming available front-end assets than for starting a new package publishing workflow. Choose Bower when a project needs its established command-line model, flat dependency handling, supported endpoint types, and offline cache use. Choose another package manager when package registration or a different dependency model is central to the project.

Your product? Our editors can test Bower in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Bower pricing

Plans Open sourceFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on bower.io

Bower fact sheet

Free planNot verified
Paid fromFree
Workspace supportNot verified
Lockfile supportNot verified
Peer dependency handlingNot verified
Package publishingNo
Offline package cacheYes
Global installationNot verified
DeploymentSelf-hosted
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux
SupportCommunity, Email, Docs
Built forSolo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate)
Integrations3 integrations: Grunt, RequireJS, Yeoman
PricingOpen source
Websitebower.io
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

Bower integrations

Bower lists 3 integrations on its own site.

  • Grunt
  • RequireJS
  • Yeoman

Alternatives to Bower

See all Bower alternatives →

Also Ranked In

Bower is ranked in 2 of our directories.

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Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — Bower 6.6/10

Bower is listed in our JavaScript Package Managers directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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