Quick Comparison
| pnpm | npm | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 2-3x faster | Standard |
| Disk usage | Content-addressable store (shared) | Duplicates per project |
| Strictness | Strict (no phantom deps) | Loose |
| Monorepo | Built-in workspaces | Workspaces (basic) |
| Compatibility | 99%+ npm compatible | 100% |
When to Use pnpm
- Monorepos (best workspace support)
- You have many projects (saves disk space)
- You want faster installs
- You want strict dependency resolution
When to Use npm
- Simple projects
- You want zero setup (comes with Node.js)
- Maximum compatibility
- Tutorials and docs use npm by default
Verdict
pnpm for serious development — it’s faster, stricter, and saves disk space. npm if you want simplicity and don’t want to install anything extra.