Side by side
DVM vs Volta
Both stand on runtime version managers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid LinuxMacWindows
Choose DVM if you need to manage multiple Deno releases or configure a project-specific version through `.dvmrc`. Its commands cover version installation, selection, listing, and removal across macOS, Linux, and Windows. Users who need automatic version switching should look elsewhere.
Visit DVM Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Volta provides project-based Node and tool version management with cross-platform installers and CI support. Its experimental pnpm behavior and unmaintained status are central factors when evaluating it today.
Visit VoltaThe facts
| DVM | Volta | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Not published | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Not published |
| Plans published | None | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | volta.sh |
| On runtime version managers | #30 of 30 | #26 of 30 |
DVM: what it does well
- Installs a chosen, latest, or latest LTS Deno release.
- Selects versions by number, semantic range, or alias.
- Supports project-local version configuration with `.dvmrc`.
- Lists installed versions and remote releases.
- Free and released under the MIT License.
What to know first
- The shell installer requires `unzip`.
- Windows use requires PowerShell, and automatic switching is not provided.
Volta: what it does well
- Pins Node versions in package.json
- Routes tools automatically with PATH shims
- Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux
- GitHub Action supports CI setup
- Open source under BSD 2-clause
What to know first
- Project repository says it is unmaintained
- pnpm support is experimental
- Global pnpm installations are unsupported
- No team controls