esbuild vs rollup vs webpack vs tsup | JavaScript Bundlers Comparison

Package	Downloads	Stars	Size	Issues	Publish	License

esbuild	70,702,730	39,285	135 kB	562	24 days ago	MIT
rollup	47,854,534	25,974	2.76 MB	610	5 days ago	MIT
webpack	32,409,608	65,525	5.47 MB	207	18 days ago	MIT
tsup	2,008,424	10,748	390 kB	375	4 months ago	MIT

Package

Downloads

Stars

Size

Issues

Publish

License

esbuild

70,702,730

39,285

135 kB

562

24 days ago

MIT

rollup

47,854,534

25,974

2.76 MB

610

5 days ago

MIT

webpack

32,409,608

65,525

5.47 MB

207

18 days ago

MIT

tsup

2,008,424

10,748

390 kB

375

4 months ago

MIT

Bundling Speed

esbuild:
esbuild is known for its incredible speed, often completing tasks in a fraction of the time compared to traditional bundlers. It is written in Go, which contributes to its performance, making it ideal for projects where build time is a concern.
rollup:
rollup is generally slower than esbuild, but it provides excellent tree-shaking capabilities, which can result in smaller final bundles. The speed is acceptable for most library projects, but it may not be as fast for large applications.
webpack:
webpack is known for its flexibility but can be slower than other bundlers, especially for large projects with complex configurations. However, its performance can be optimized with techniques like code splitting, caching, and using the webpack-dev-server for faster development builds.
tsup:
tsup leverages esbuild for bundling, which means it inherits the speed advantages of esbuild. It is designed to be fast and efficient, making it a great choice for quick builds with minimal configuration.

Tree Shaking

esbuild:
esbuild supports tree shaking out of the box, which helps eliminate unused code during the bundling process. It is efficient and works well with ES modules, making it suitable for modern JavaScript applications.
rollup:
rollup is renowned for its superior tree-shaking capabilities, especially for library bundling. It analyzes the entire module graph and removes unused exports, resulting in smaller bundles. This makes Rollup the preferred choice for projects where output size is critical.
webpack:
webpack supports tree shaking, but it requires proper configuration and the use of ES modules for optimal results. While it is effective, it may not be as efficient as Rollup, especially in terms of eliminating unused code.
tsup:
tsup also supports tree shaking, leveraging esbuild and rollup under the hood. It provides good tree-shaking capabilities with minimal configuration, making it efficient for both library and application bundling.

Configuration Complexity

esbuild:
esbuild is designed to be simple and requires minimal configuration. Its API is straightforward, making it easy to integrate into projects without a steep learning curve.
rollup:
rollup requires some configuration, especially for advanced features like plugins and custom output formats. However, it is generally considered more straightforward than Webpack, especially for library projects.
webpack:
webpack is highly configurable but can be complex and daunting for beginners. Its flexibility comes with a steep learning curve, and setting up a Webpack configuration can be time-consuming, especially for large projects.
tsup:
tsup is focused on zero-config bundling, making it extremely easy to use, especially for TypeScript projects. It automatically handles many configurations, allowing developers to get started quickly without extensive setup.

Code Splitting

esbuild:
esbuild supports code splitting, allowing developers to split their code into smaller chunks that can be loaded on demand. This feature helps improve the performance of large applications by reducing the initial load time.
rollup:
rollup also supports code splitting, making it easy to create multiple output files from a single entry point. This feature is particularly useful for creating libraries and applications that benefit from on-demand loading of modules.
webpack:
webpack is known for its powerful code splitting capabilities, allowing for highly customizable chunking strategies. It provides fine-grained control over how and when code is split, making it ideal for large applications that require optimized loading.
tsup:
tsup supports code splitting as well, leveraging the capabilities of esbuild and rollup. It allows developers to create split bundles with minimal configuration, making it a great choice for both libraries and applications.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

esbuild:

Simple Bundling with esbuild

echo "const x = () => { console.log('Hello, World!'); };" > index.js
npx esbuild index.js --bundle --outfile=bundle.js

rollup:

Basic Rollup Configuration

echo "export const greet = () => { console.log('Hello from Rollup!'); };" > greet.js
echo "import { greet } from './greet.js'; greet();" > main.js

# rollup.config.js
import { nodeResolve } from '@rollup/plugin-node-resolve';

export default {
  input: 'main.js',
  output: {
    file: 'bundle.js',
    format: 'iife',
  },
  plugins: [nodeResolve()],
};

# Build with Rollup
npx rollup -c

webpack:

Basic Webpack Setup

echo "const greet = () => { console.log('Hello from Webpack!'); };" > index.js

echo "module.exports = { greet };" > greet.js

# webpack.config.js
const path = require('path');

module.exports = {
  entry: './index.js',
  output: {
    filename: 'bundle.js',
    path: path.resolve(__dirname, 'dist'),
  },
};

# Build with Webpack
npx webpack --config webpack.config.js

tsup:

Quick Setup with tsup

echo "export const hello = () => 'Hello, tsup!';" > hello.js
echo "import { hello } from './hello.js'; console.log(hello());" > index.js

# Bundle with tsup
npx tsup index.js