Side by side
Bower vs JSPM
Both stand on javascript package managers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Bower manages front-end packages and dependencies, with configurable sources and workflow integrations. It does not process installed code, and its site recommends Yarn and Vite for front-end projects.
Visit Bower Free plan APIExtensionLinux+4
JSPM covers import-map dependency management from development through production bundling, with a CDN and several integrations. Treat its publishing command as a prototyping tool, not a dependable publishing route.
Visit JSPMThe facts
| Bower | JSPM | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | API, Extension, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | bower.io | jspm.org |
| On javascript package managers | #1 of 19 | #3 of 19 |
Bower: what it does well
- Free command-line utility with no paid plans.
- Records dependencies in bower.json.
- Downloads shared dependencies only once.
- Supports registry, Git, URL, and local-folder sources.
What to know first
- Requires Node.js, npm, and Git.
- Does not concatenate or minify code.
- Deprecated for registering new packages.
JSPM: what it does well
- Free and open source.
- CDN loads optimized npm dependencies without a separate build step.
- Development server supports auto-installation and hot reloading.
- Can add Subresource Integrity hashes to dependency graphs.
- Offers built-in providers and configurable custom providers.
What to know first
- The publish command is experimental.
- JSPM gives no reliability guarantees for publishing on jspm.io.
- The hosted API is positioned as a convenience over using Generator directly.