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SPECIFICTION
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Bun vs npm

Bun

bun.sh

npm

npmjs.com

Side by side

FigureBunnpm
Price fromFree$7/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Open source——
WindowsYesYes
macOSYesYes
LinuxYesYes
Plans published14
Spec score · Monorepo Management Tools8.3 (#5)8.7 (#2)
Spec score · JavaScript Package Managers8.5 (#3)8.9 (#1)
Spec score · Package Managers8.4 (#24)9.3 (#1)
Dependency resolutionYesYes
Lockfile supportYesYes
Offline installationYesYes
Package formatsnpm packages,Git repositories,GitHub repositories,tarballs,file dependencies,npm aliasespackage.json folders,gzipped tarballs,URLs,name@version,name@tag,Git URLs
Private registry authYesYes
Supported platformsmacOS,Linux,WindowsmacOS,Windows,Linux,and other operating systems via Node.js installers or version managers
Workspace supportYesYes

Plans

Bun

  • BunFree

Bun pricing →

npm

  • FreeFree
  • Paid user account$7 a month
  • Pro$7 a month
  • Teams$7 a month

npm pricing →

In their own words

Bun

Bun combines a JavaScript runtime, package manager, test runner, and bundler in one binary. It runs JavaScript and TypeScript on JavaScriptCore, with support for Node.js APIs and node_modules. Its npm-compatible package manager supports workspaces, catalogs, overrides, patches, readable lockfiles, private registry authentication, dependency resolution, and offline installation. The test runner includes Jest-compatible expectations, mocks, snapshots, DOM testing, and coverage. For builds, Bun handles TypeScript, JSX, CSS, and HTML for browsers and servers, and includes a development server with hot module reloading and single-file executables. Built-in APIs cover PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Redis, S3-compatible storage, HTTP, and WebSockets. The project names Next.js, Remix, Nuxt, Astro, SvelteKit, Hono, and Elysia among frameworks that run on Bun. It is MIT-licensed and developed publicly on GitHub. Bun runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, subject to minimum OS versions and x64 processors with SSE4.2. Install options include an official script, npm, Homebrew, Windows package managers, and Docker. Support and discussion are available through Discord.

Visit bun.sh

npm

npm is a JavaScript package registry and command-line tool for sharing code and managing packages. The Registry and CLI are free for public package use, and the Free plan lets public package authors publish unlimited public packages. npm accepts package.json folders, gzipped tarballs, URLs, name-and-version or name-and-tag references, and Git URLs. Its tools support dependency resolution, lockfiles, workspaces, private registry authentication, and offline installation. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and other operating systems through Node.js installers or version managers. For private packages, the Paid user account plan is $7 a month; Pro is also $7 a month for individual creators, while Teams is $7 per user per month for teams and organizations. Pro includes unlimited private packages and package-based permissions; Teams adds team-based permissions. Organizations can manage members, teams, roles, permissions, and package access. All plans include basic support and automatic security warnings. Paid billing starts when card details are submitted, with the first month charged immediately.

Visit npmjs.com