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Npmjs Review

Worth it

Should I use Npmjs?

Not disclosed - npmjs.com

· 1 month ago

If you write JavaScript, npm is effectively mandatory — it's the default package registry and free for public packages. Security-sensitive teams should add lockfiles, allowlists, or a private proxy registry, and shouldn't expect polished support.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 20+ public sources: npm docs and pricing pages, G2/Trustpilot reviews, Reddit threads, and 2025 security coverage. Review volume is very thin (4 Trustpilot reviews), so user sentiment leans on Reddit.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Free

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
ProPaid — price not shown in sources
TeamsPaid — price not shown in sources

Best for

  • JavaScript/Node.js developers
  • Open-source package publishers
  • Frontend and backend JS teams

Not for

  • Non-JavaScript stacks — use PyPI, NuGet, or Maven instead
  • Security-critical orgs without registry allowlists or scanning
  • Buyers who need polished UI and responsive vendor support
  • Anyone needing private packages on a $0 budget

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

One compromised maintainer account can push malicious updates to hundreds of millions of weekly installs.

medium

Private packages require paid Pro/Teams plans; the free tier is public-only.

medium

Your email becomes publicly visible when you publish a package.

medium

Support runs through @npm_support and @npmstatus; reviewers report slow, thin service.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • De facto registry for JavaScript packages, frontend and backend
  • Free tier for public package authors
  • Built-in dependency vulnerability auditing (npm audit)
  • Trusted publishing cuts reliance on long-lived tokens

Cons

  • Sept 2025 attack compromised 19 packages; one had ~371M weekly downloads
  • Users call 'abandoned'; support feels neglected
  • Publishing a package exposes your email publicly
  • New publishing friction reported after policy changes
  • Package quality varies; many trivial packages

Sources & method

- 11 sources - High-risk: repeated supply-chain compromises, including a Sept 2025 worm affecting 19 popular packages; 19 CVEs tracked.

official x2review x4security x4news x1
  • September 2025 npm supply-chain attack, Phishing-led account takeover published a self-replicating worm; 19 packages compromised; CISA advisory issued Sept 23, 2025.
  • CVE-2021-37701 — npm tar RCE, Remote code execution vulnerability in npm's tar dependency, per SentinelOne.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 11

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Core registry free; paid only for private packages
  • Ease of use: 4/5. G2 calls it easy; Reddit cites publishing friction
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Orgs, staged publishing, trusted publishing, audit
  • Support quality: 2/5. Reddit users call the site abandoned
  • Security posture: 2/5. Repeated supply-chain attacks; 19 CVEs tracked
  • 4.0/5 Trustpilot rating Only 4 reviews — very thin sample
  • $0 Starting price Free for public package authors
  • 19 Public CVEs tracked Per OpenCVE listing
  • 2014 VC-backed since Per Scripting News coverage

Pricing

Free

$0

  • For public package authors

Pro

Paid — price not shown in sources

  • Individual paid user plan
  • Private packages per upgrade docs

Teams

Paid — price not shown in sources

  • Paid organization plan
  • Team features per comparison page

Security

High-risk: repeated supply-chain compromises, including a Sept 2025 worm affecting 19 popular packages; 19 CVEs tracked.

  • September 2025 npm supply-chain attackPhishing-led account takeover published a self-replicating worm; 19 packages compromised; CISA advisory issued Sept 23, 2025.⁷
  • CVE-2021-37701 — npm tar RCERemote code execution vulnerability in npm's tar dependency, per SentinelOne.⁹

What users say

Review volume is tiny; G2 users find package management easy, while Reddit threads criticize site neglect, publishing friction, package quality, and security.

“Why is npmjs.com so abandoned?”
Reddit, r/npm
“I am concerned about the low quality of NPM packages.”
Reddit, r/typescript
“New friction with npmjs and publishing”
Reddit, r/npm

Companies that use it

  • Red Hat
Full analysis

Based on 20+ public sources: npm docs and pricing pages, G2/Trustpilot reviews, Reddit threads, and 2025 security coverage. Review volume is very thin (4 Trustpilot reviews), so user sentiment leans on Reddit.

The default JavaScript package registry: essential and free for JS work, but supply-chain attacks and thin support demand extra guardrails.

Methodology

Based on 20+ public sources: npm docs and pricing pages, G2/Trustpilot reviews, Reddit threads, and 2025 security coverage. Review volume is very thin (4 Trustpilot reviews), so user sentiment leans on Reddit.

Read how a report is made.

Sources

  1. npm Reviews 2026 — G2g2.com
    review
  2. npm Reviews — Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  3. Why is npmjs.com so abandoned? — Redditreddit.com
    review
  4. Concerns about npmjs.com — Redditreddit.com
    review
  5. npm Pricing — officialnpmjs.com
    official
  6. npm Pro — feature comparisonnpmjs.com
    official
  7. Widespread Supply Chain Compromise Impacting npm — CISAcisa.gov
    security
  8. 19 npm Packages Compromised in Major Supply-Chain Attack — OX Securityox.security
    security
  9. CVE-2021-37701: npm tar RCE — SentinelOnesentinelone.com
    security
  10. Npmjs CVEs — OpenCVEapp.opencve.io
    security
  11. Our plan for a more secure npm supply chain — GitHub Bloggithub.blog
    news

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