npkill

Effortlessly manage and remove old node_modules folders to optimize your development environment.

EstablishedOpen SourceLow lock-in
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Pricing

Free tier

Flat rate

Adoption

↗Rising

License

Open Source

Data freshness

Verified · Jul 16, 2026

Overview

What is npkill?

npkill is a tool designed to help developers find and remove heavy or outdated node_modules directories, streamlining the development process and freeing up disk space. It's particularly useful for maintaining clean project environments and improving build times.

Key differentiator

“npkill stands out as a simple yet effective tool for managing and cleaning up node_modules directories, offering developers an easy way to optimize their development environments without complex configurations.”

Capability profile

Capability Radar

Ease of StartEcosystemValueMaturityFlexibilityScale Ready

Honest assessment

Strengths & Weaknesses

↑ Strengths

Identifies and removes old node_modules directories to optimize disk space.medium

Improves build times by cleaning up unnecessary files.medium

Easily integrates into existing development workflows.medium

↓ Weaknesses

Limited documentation and exampleshigh

The tool's repository lacks detailed usage guides, making it difficult for new users to understand its full capabilities.

No support for non-Node.js projectsmedium

npkill is specifically designed for Node.js projects and does not provide functionality for other programming languages or frameworks.

Potential data loss if used incorrectlyhigh

Improper use of npkill can lead to accidental deletion of important node_modules directories, potentially causing build failures or requiring project reinstallation.

Does not automatically manage dependenciesmedium

npkill focuses on cleaning up existing directories but does not handle dependency management, which can still be a manual and error-prone process for developers.

Fit analysis

Who is it for?

✓ Best for

Developers working on large JavaScript projects who need to manage disk space efficiently.

Teams that require frequent cleaning of node_modules directories to maintain optimal build times.

✕ Not a fit for

Projects where manual management of dependencies is preferred over automated tools.

Small-scale projects with minimal dependency management needs.

Cost structure

Pricing

Free Tier

Available

Open source — free to use

Starts at

$0

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise

None

Performance benchmarks

How Fast Is It?

Ecosystem

Relationships

Works well with

webpack

Next step

Get Started with npkill

Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.

View Setup Guide →