Ditch NPM and Yarn? Why PNPM is the Package Manager to Watch in 2025

Struggling with slow install times and bloated node_modules folders? You're not alone. Many developers are seeking better solutions for package management. While npm and Yarn have been the go-to choices, a new contender is emerging.

TL;DR: PNPM offers up to 65% faster install times than npm and Yarn, saves disk space with shared packages, and boasts superior monorepo support. Is it time to make the switch? Let's dive in.

The Problem: node_modules is a Disk Space Hog

We've all been there: a seemingly innocent project directory ballooning into gigabytes. The culprit? Redundant packages within node_modules.

npm and Yarn traditionally install a separate copy of each dependency for every project. If you have multiple projects using the same version of React, you end up with multiple copies on your hard drive. This rapidly eats up disk space, especially with numerous or large projects.

Enter PNPM: The Efficient Package Manager

PNPM (Performant NPM) offers a compelling alternative. Instead of duplicating packages, it leverages a content-addressable store located in ~/.pnpm-store. This means PNPM only stores one copy of each package version.

How does it work? PNPM uses hard links and symlinks to create the node_modules folder for each project, pointing to the packages in the central store.

Benefits:

• Significant disk space savings: No more duplicate packages!
• Faster install times: Hard links and parallel fetching speed up the process.

PNPM vs NPM vs Yarn: Real-World Performance Comparison

Benchmarks reveal the performance gains you can expect with PNPM:

Scenario	npm	Yarn v1	pnpm
Clean install	27.2 s	9.3 s	8.9 s
Re-install w/ cache & lockfile	1.3 s	5 s	0.85 s

PNPM shines, offering roughly a 3x speed improvement over npm on fresh installs and even surpassing Yarn in cached scenarios. Disk usage also sees a drastic reduction, with monorepos potentially shrinking from 1.2 GB with npm to under 300 MB with PNPM.

These benchmarks highlight why developers are choosing pnpm for improved node package management.

Monorepo Management Made Easy

If you're working with a monorepo, PNPM provides built-in features to streamline your workflow:

• Recursive script execution: Run scripts across multiple packages with ease (pnpm -r dev).
• Workspace protocol: Seamlessly link local packages within the monorepo.
• Deterministic lockfile: Ensure consistent dependencies across your monorepo.

Leading projects like Next.js, Vite, Nuxt, Astro, and Prisma have already adopted PNPM, proving its effectiveness for monorepo management.

Say Goodbye to "Works on My Machine" Bugs

PNPM's strict dependency management prevents accidental imports of undeclared packages. This eliminates a common source of environment-specific bugs, ensuring greater consistency across development environments.

Getting Started with PNPM: A Quick Guide

Ready to give PNPM a try? Here's how to get started:

1. Install PNPM: Ensure you have Node.js 18+ and use Corepack. If not, or to use NPM or Yarn:

   # NPM
   npm install -g pnpm@latest-10
   # Yarn
   yarn global add pnpm@latest-10
   

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2. Convert an existing project:

   pnpm import # Renames yarn.lock / package-lock.json -> pnpm-lock.yaml
   

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3. Install dependencies:

   pnpm install
   

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4. Update your scripts: Modify your package.json scripts to use pnpm instead of npm or yarn.

Potential Caveats and Solutions

While PNPM offers numerous benefits, here are a few potential issues and their solutions:

Symptom	Fix
Tooling dislikes symlinks	Add node-linker=hoisted to .npmrc
Windows network drives break hard links	Set --use-hard-links=false
Muscle memory types npm	Use npm exec -c 'pnpm $@'

The Verdict: Is PNPM Right for You in 2025?

PNPM represents a significant leap forward in package management, offering faster install times, reduced disk usage, and excellent monorepo support. Unless specific tooling prevents it, migrating to PNPM is a worthwhile investment for a smoother and more efficient development experience.

Ready to optimize your Javascript package management workflow? Give PNPM a try and experience the difference.

Stay Connected

Enjoy this content? Explore more on my blog, The Glitched Goblet, or connect with me on BlueSky at kaemonisland.bsky.social. Stay tuned for regular updates and fresh insights!