Why compare?
npm comes bundled with Node.js by default, but pnpm offers significant advantages in performance and disk usage. Understanding the differences helps decide if migration is worth it.
Disk space
npm creates nested node_modules with copies of each dependency per project. If you have 10 projects with React, you have 10 copies. pnpm uses a global store with symlinks, drastically reducing space.
# npm: 1.2 GB for 10 projects with same dependencies
# pnpm: 200 MB for the same 10 projects
Installation speed
pnpm is significantly faster than npm, especially in repeat installations. The global store makes second installations nearly instant.
Security
pnpm is strict: it doesn't allow your code to import undeclared dependencies. npm allows this, which can cause hard-to-debug errors.
Migration
npm install -g pnpm
pnpm import
pnpm install
Want to migrate to pnpm? At Vynta we optimize your project's dependency management.