NodeSource Distributions vs nvm
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Scripts that install Node.js on Linux from NodeSource's apt and yum package repositories.
Open source · MIT
A command-line tool to install and switch between multiple Node.js versions on Mac, Linux, and WSL.
The short answer
Choose NodeSource Distributions if you need…
- Linux users who want a Node.js version installed through their system package manager
- Server admins setting up Node.js on Debian or Ubuntu style systems
- Developers who need a specific Node.js major version on Linux
Choose nvm if you need…
- Developers who work on several Node.js projects that need different versions
- People on macOS, Linux, or Windows WSL who use a POSIX-compatible shell like bash or zsh
- Teams that pin a version in a .nvmrc file so everyone runs the same Node.js version
- Beginners who want a simple way to try a specific Node.js release
Side-by-side
| NodeSource Distributions | nvm | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 13.9k | 95.7k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | See the README | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | Shell | Shell |
| Last code update | 7 days ago | 8 days ago |
What each one is
NodeSource Distributions
This repository holds the setup scripts NodeSource uses to publish Node.js binary packages for Linux distributions. The README provided here is very short and mostly points to an older DEV_README.md, so the details of how the scripts are used are not shown. The description and topics indicate it is a way to install the Node.js runtime on Linux.
nvm
nvm is a small shell script that lets you install several versions of Node.js on one computer and switch between them from the terminal. It is installed per user and loaded in each shell session. People use it when different projects need different Node.js versions.
Best for
NodeSource Distributions
- Linux users who want a Node.js version installed through their system package manager
- Server admins setting up Node.js on Debian or Ubuntu style systems
- Developers who need a specific Node.js major version on Linux
nvm
- Developers who work on several Node.js projects that need different versions
- People on macOS, Linux, or Windows WSL who use a POSIX-compatible shell like bash or zsh
- Teams that pin a version in a .nvmrc file so everyone runs the same Node.js version
- Beginners who want a simple way to try a specific Node.js release
Strengths
NodeSource Distributions
- Widely starred project (13,850 stars in the metadata) associated with the NodeSource brand
- Released under the MIT license, which permits free use and modification
- Recently updated, with the last push listed in the metadata
nvm
- Lets you keep several Node.js versions installed and switch between them quickly
- Works with common POSIX shells such as bash, zsh, dash, and ksh, per the README
- MIT licensed and widely used, with a large and active open-source community
Not ideal for
NodeSource Distributions
- macOS or Windows users, since the description refers to Linux packages (the README does not list other platforms)
- People who want the latest Node.js with no setup, since the README does not describe how versions are chosen
- Anyone who needs the README's detailed instructions, because the provided README only links to older documentation
nvm
- Windows users running native PowerShell or cmd without WSL, since the README only describes unix, macOS, and WSL support
- People who only need one Node.js version and never switch, since a system install or a direct download may be simpler
- Environments that cannot run shell scripts or need a fixed, prebuilt binary without an installer step
Trade-offs
NodeSource Distributions
- The provided README is truncated and mostly a pointer to older documentation, so usage details are unclear
- No formal release is listed, so there is no versioned release to rely on
- Tied to Linux package distribution and to the NodeSource service rather than a general-purpose tool
nvm
- It is a shell script rather than a native app, so behavior depends on your shell setup and profile files
- The README notes Windows support is through WSL, not native Windows
- Setup involves editing shell profile files, which can be confusing for beginners
Getting started
NodeSource Distributions
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/nodesource/distributionsnvm
Install or update nvm (cURL)
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.8/install.sh | bashInstall or update nvm (Wget)
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.8/install.sh | bashFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between NodeSource Distributions and nvm?
NodeSource Distributions: Scripts that install Node.js on Linux from NodeSource's apt and yum package repositories. nvm: A command-line tool to install and switch between multiple Node.js versions on Mac, Linux, and WSL. NodeSource Distributions suits linux users who want a node.js version installed through their system package manager, while nvm suits developers who work on several node.js projects that need different versions.
Are NodeSource Distributions and nvm free?
NodeSource Distributions: Free and open source. nvm: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, NodeSource Distributions or nvm?
nvm is easier to get started with (rated beginner); NodeSource Distributions is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is NodeSource Distributions or nvm more popular?
nvm has more GitHub stars (95.7k) than NodeSource Distributions (13.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to NodeSource Distributions and nvm?
Other options people compare them with include ts-node, n, asdf.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.