Yarn

Overview

Yarn is a free, open-source package and project manager for JavaScript developers, from small projects to industry monorepos. It is a strong fit when shared workspaces and control over dependency installation matter; its default Plug'n'Play mode is not suitable for every toolchain.

Key features

Yarn resolves dependencies and records them in a lockfile. It supports npm packages, tarballs, and local, Git, link, patch, portal, and workspace references, giving teams several ways to bring dependencies into a project. Private registry authentication is supported as well.

Workspaces install and link packages within one project, making Yarn useful for monorepos. Modern Yarn defaults to Plug'n'Play, which creates a Node.js loader file instead of a conventional node_modules directory. Projects can switch to node_modules or pnpm-style symlink installs when their tooling expects a different layout. React Native and Expo require node_modules, so Yarn suits those projects only with that install mode.

Yarn caches installed packages by default and shares the cache across projects on the same machine. An offline mirror and zero-installs workflow can keep cached packages in the repository and reduce dependence on the npm registry, useful for teams that need offline installation but an added consideration for repository workflows.

Plugins can add resolvers, fetchers, linkers, CLI commands, and lifecycle hooks. Generated editor SDKs and settings support tools including VSCode, Vim, Emacs, and Neovim, helping editors work with Yarn projects.

Security checks need deliberate attention: yarn install does not run audits by default. The separate yarn npm audit command covers direct dependencies in the current workspace by default. Since Yarn 4.14, postinstall scripts are disabled by default and must be enabled globally or for a package. For public GitHub pull requests, hardened mode checks lockfile resolutions and metadata against the remote registry by default; those checks can make installs slower.

Pricing

Yarn costs nothing. Its open-source package manager has no paid plans or stated usage limits, so the same free offering suits individual projects and larger teams without a paid tier to outgrow.

Platforms

Yarn supports Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Who it's for

Yarn is suited to open-source developers and enterprise users who want dependency management across projects, especially teams organizing related packages with workspaces. Its independent, community-led maintainer model may appeal to users who prefer a project whose roadmap is set by contributors rather than tied to a company. Teams using React Native or Expo should plan on node_modules rather than the default PnP mode.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Workspaces link packages within a project, supporting monorepo workflows without requiring a separate workspace tool.
• Pro: PnP, node_modules, and pnpm-style symlink installs let teams choose an installation layout to match project needs.
• Pro: Package caching, offline mirrors, and zero-installs can reduce reliance on the npm registry.
• Con: React Native and Expo require node_modules, ruling out the default PnP setup for those projects.
• Con: Auditing is a separate step, and hardened-mode checks on public GitHub pull requests can slow installs.

Alternatives

Choose npm if you want a package manager with a free plan for public package authors and paid plans also available. For Python dependency management, uv is a free alternative; for Rust packages and builds, Cargo is free. Gradle is a free open-source build system, while pip is another free option. pnpm is a free alternative if you want to compare JavaScript package managers. For Java projects, Apache Maven is free and Maven 3.10 requires JDK 8 or later; for PHP dependency management, Composer is a free, MIT-licensed option.

Browse Package Managers, JavaScript Package Managers, or Monorepo Management Tools to compare more options.

Verdict

Choose Yarn if you want a free JavaScript package manager with workspace support and flexible install strategies, particularly for a monorepo. Look elsewhere if your project depends on React Native or Expo and you are unwilling to use node_modules, or if you need audits to run automatically during installation.