Yup vs Zod
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
A JavaScript/TypeScript library for defining schemas that validate and convert data at runtime.
Open source · MIT
TypeScript-first library for validating data at runtime and inferring static types from the same schema.
The short answer
Choose Yup if you need…
- Developers validating form or API input in JavaScript or TypeScript
- Teams that want TypeScript types inferred from a validation schema
- Projects that need async validation, such as checking against a server
- Developers who want to extend schemas with their own custom methods
Choose Zod if you need…
- TypeScript developers who want runtime checks that match their static types
- Teams validating API request or response data in TypeScript projects
- Developers who want one schema definition instead of separate types and validators
Side-by-side
| Yup | Zod | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 23.7k | 44.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
Yup
Yup lets you describe the expected shape of a value, such as a user object with a name, age, and email, using chained method calls. You can then check incoming data against that schema, or convert ('cast') it into the correct types. It is commonly used to check form input or API data before using it.
Zod
Zod is a TypeScript library for defining schemas that check whether data has the expected shape, such as form input or API responses. You describe the shape once, and Zod both validates values at runtime and gives you a TypeScript type that matches it. The README provided is truncated and only points to the package, so details beyond that are limited here.
Best for
Yup
- Developers validating form or API input in JavaScript or TypeScript
- Teams that want TypeScript types inferred from a validation schema
- Projects that need async validation, such as checking against a server
- Developers who want to extend schemas with their own custom methods
Zod
- TypeScript developers who want runtime checks that match their static types
- Teams validating API request or response data in TypeScript projects
- Developers who want one schema definition instead of separate types and validators
Strengths
Yup
- Concise chained syntax that the README describes as expressive enough for complex, interdependent validations
- Strong TypeScript support, including inferring static types from schemas
- Clear error details and support for custom error messages and localization
Zod
- Schemas produce both runtime validation and static type inference
- MIT licensed and widely starred (about 44k stars at time of metadata)
- Actively maintained, with a recent release (v4.6.7) and a recent push
Not ideal for
Yup
- Projects that do not use JavaScript or TypeScript, since the library is written for that ecosystem
- Users who need a non-developer tool with a visual interface
- Projects on the pre-v1 API, since the README points to a separate pre-v1 branch for those docs
Zod
- Projects not using TypeScript, since the library is described as TypeScript-first and the README excerpt gives no JavaScript-only guidance
- Readers needing a no-code tool, because this is a code library that requires writing schemas
Trade-offs
Yup
- The README is truncated, so this summary covers only the first part of the API reference
- Its full feature set and edge cases are documented elsewhere and were not visible here
- Pre-v1 users must use a different documentation branch
Zod
- The README excerpt was truncated, so API details and setup specifics could not be verified here
- Being TypeScript-first means its main value depends on using TypeScript
Getting started
Zod
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/colinhacks/zodFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Yup and Zod?
Yup: A JavaScript/TypeScript library for defining schemas that validate and convert data at runtime. Zod: TypeScript-first library for validating data at runtime and inferring static types from the same schema. Yup suits developers validating form or api input in javascript or typescript, while Zod suits typescript developers who want runtime checks that match their static types.
Are Yup and Zod free?
Yup: Free and open source. Zod: Free and open source.
Is Yup or Zod more popular?
Zod has more GitHub stars (44.2k) than Yup (23.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Yup and Zod?
Other options people compare them with include Ajv, ts-pattern.
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.