Bun
Bun is an incredibly fast JavaScript runtime, bundler, test runner, and package manager – all in one tool.
Zig · 89.0k GitHub stars
Bun vs Node.js
Side-by-side open-source comparison for 2026. Node.js currently leads on GitHub stars (116.7k) over Bun (89.0k). Both tools list each other as alternatives in this directory.
Quick comparison
| # | Tool | Stars | Language | License |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Node.js High-performance JavaScript runtime that enables scalable server-side development, real-time applications, and enterprise-grade systems. | 116.7k | JavaScript | MIT License |
| 2 | Bun Bun is an incredibly fast JavaScript runtime, bundler, test runner, and package manager – all in one tool. | 89.0k | Zig | Other |
Overview
Node.js
High-performance JavaScript runtime that enables scalable server-side development, real-time applications, and enterprise-grade systems.
JavaScript · MIT License · 116.7k GitHub stars
Explore both tools
116.7k
Node.js
High-performance JavaScript runtime that enables scalable server-side development, real-time applications, and enterprise-grade systems.
🟡
JavaScript👨💻
Development🛠️
Tools
89.0k
Bun
Bun is an incredibly fast JavaScript runtime, bundler, test runner, and package manager – all in one tool.
👨💻
Development🟡
JavaScript💚
Node.js🛠️
Tools
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Bun or Node.js?
Node.js currently has more GitHub stars (116.7k) than Bun (89.0k). Star counts are a proxy for community adoption.
Are Bun and Node.js free?
Yes. Both are open source and free to use in your own projects.
How does this comparison work?
Pages only exist for mutual alternatives — each tool lists the other in its alternatives metadata. Stats come from the canonical tool records in this directory.
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