nodenv vs nvm
nodenv
github.comnvm
github.comSide by side
| Figure | nodenv | nvm |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Runtime Version Managers | 7.6 (#15) | 8.5 (#4) |
| Spec score · Development Environment Managers | 7.5 (#33) | 8.4 (#10) |
| Automatic switching | It checks a project’s .node-version file and switches Node.js versions as you move between project directories. | Automatic directory switching is documented as user-added bash or zsh hooks rather than built into the core command. |
| License | The repository identifies the project as MIT licensed. | nvm is distributed under the MIT License, permitting use, modification, distribution and sale subject to retaining notices. |
| Purpose | nodenv manages Node.js versions so projects can use the correct version on the same machine. | nvm lets users install and use different Node.js versions from the command line. |
| Security | The repository links to a security policy, but the opened README does not state a security certification or compliance standard. | The GitHub repository links to a security policy, but the README does not state a security certification or compliance standard. |
| Shell support | The project provides completion scripts for Bash, Zsh, and Fish and documents shell initialization for these shells. | It works on POSIX-compliant shells including sh, dash, ksh, zsh, and bash. |
| Support | The project directs users to file bugs in its GitHub issue tracker and submit pull requests. | The project states that only the latest nvm version is supported. |
Plans
In their own words
nvm
nvm is a free, MIT-licensed command-line tool for installing and managing Node.js versions. It is designed for installation per user and invocation per shell, and works in POSIX-compliant shells including sh, dash, ksh, zsh, and bash. Users can install specific versions, switch between them, set aliases such as a default, and use LTS aliases and commands to select long-term support versions. A project can specify its Node.js version in an.nvmrc file; documented shell snippets can support automatic switching. During installation, nvm can reinstall global npm packages from another installed Node.js version. With the --offline flag, it can install a version that was previously downloaded or cached without network access. The project documents use in Docker, including an example for CI/CD jobs. On Windows, nvm can work through WSL and may work with Git Bash or Cygwin depending on the environment. Fish shell is not supported, and the project points users to community alternatives. The project states that only the latest nvm version is supported.