fnm
6.1#9 in runtime version managersFree planFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
Visitfnm vs nvm
What both publish
| Fact | fnm | nvm |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic switching | Shell setup can enable automatic Node.js version switching when changing directories. | Automatic directory switching is documented as user-added bash or zsh hooks rather than built into the core command. |
| License | The repository identifies its license as GPL-3.0. | nvm is distributed under the MIT License, permitting use, modification, distribution and sale subject to retaining notices. |
| Purpose | fnm is a fast and simple Node.js version manager built in Rust. | nvm lets users install and use different Node.js versions from the command line. |
| Security advisories | The project page reports that there are no published security advisories. | The repository lists 2026 advisories involving malicious mirrors, path traversal and command injection, with severities from low to high. |
fnm plans
- fnmFree
nvm plans
- nvmFree
Pick fnm if…
fnm suits developers who want to manage Node.js versions from a supported operating system’s command line or shell. Its project-file and shell integrations are relevant to those switching versions by directory.
Pick nvm if…
nvm suits developers who need to manage Node.js versions from the command line, including per-project version selection and CI/CD use. It is intended for per-user, per-shell installation.