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Pricing from
$7.00 per user per month
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Free version
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  1. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
  2. Information technology and software
  3. Education and training

What is npm

npm is a package manager and package registry for JavaScript and Node.js that hosts and distributes packages and supports dependency installation via the npm CLI. It is used by developers and DevOps teams to publish, consume, and manage JavaScript packages across public and private scopes. The service includes access controls for private packages and supports integration with common CI/CD workflows through standard registry APIs. npm is operated as part of GitHub, which is a subsidiary of Microsoft.

pros

Largest JavaScript package registry

npm is the default registry for the Node.js ecosystem and is widely used for publishing and consuming JavaScript packages. This broad adoption improves package availability and reduces friction when onboarding teams to standard JavaScript tooling. For organizations building Node.js applications, it often minimizes the need to introduce a separate artifact repository for JavaScript dependencies.

Private packages and access control

npm supports private packages and scoped registries with role-based access controls for teams. This enables organizations to publish internal libraries and share them across projects while limiting access to approved users. It also supports standard authentication mechanisms used by the npm CLI and CI environments.

CLI-first developer workflow

npm integrates directly into developer workflows through the npm CLI, which is commonly installed alongside Node.js. Teams can publish, version, and install packages using familiar commands without additional tooling. This reduces operational overhead compared with repository platforms that require more administrative setup for basic JavaScript package distribution.

cons

Primarily focused on JavaScript

npm is centered on the JavaScript/Node.js ecosystem and does not serve as a general-purpose, multi-format artifact repository in the same way as broader repository managers. Organizations that need unified management across multiple languages and package formats may need additional tooling. This can increase governance and administration complexity in polyglot environments.

Limited enterprise repository features

Compared with enterprise repository managers, npm provides fewer built-in capabilities for cross-repository proxying, advanced replication topologies, and centralized policy enforcement across multiple artifact types. Some controls (for example, organization-wide governance patterns) may require complementary platform features or additional security tooling. This can matter for regulated environments with strict artifact lifecycle requirements.

Supply-chain risk depends on practices

As with any large public package ecosystem, using npm packages introduces dependency and provenance risks if teams do not implement strong review and scanning practices. npm provides mechanisms such as private packages and account controls, but organizations typically still need dedicated dependency analysis and security processes. Without these, teams may face higher exposure to malicious or compromised packages.

Plan & Pricing

Plan Price Key features & notes
Free $0 Unlimited public packages; basic support; organizations are free when publishing public packages.
Pro $7 per month Unlimited public packages; unlimited private packages; package-based permissions; individual paid account (Pro).
Teams $7 per user per month Unlimited public & private packages; team-based permissions; billed per organization member.

Seller details

GitHub, Inc.
San Francisco, California, United States
2009
Subsidiary
https://www.npmjs.com/
https://x.com/npmjs
https://www.linkedin.com/company/npm-inc-

Tools by GitHub, Inc.

GitHub
Github Package Registry
npm
Semmle
GitHub Models
GitHub Copilot

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