inupcomparison · verified 2026-07-09
inup vs npm-upgrade
npm-upgrade is the closest tool to inup in feel: an interactive updater that can show a changelog as you step through each dependency. The differences are scope — npm-upgrade is npm-only and single-project, while inup spans package managers, monorepos and a headless CI surface.
| Feature | inup | npm-upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| One tool for npm, yarn, pnpm & bun | ||
| Interactive upgrade UI | ||
| Monorepos & workspaces | ||
| Vulnerability audit in the picker | ||
| Changelogs in the terminal | ||
| Search & dep-type toggles in the UI | ||
| CI gate + JSON report | ||
| GitHub Action included | ||
| Actively maintained (2026) | ||
| Checks globally installed packages | ||
| Interactive per-package choice before writing |
Where inup is stronger
- More than npm. inup auto-detects npm, yarn, pnpm and bun, and discovers every workspace in a monorepo — including pnpm
catalog:entries, upgraded with comments preserved. npm-upgrade is npm-only, one project at a time. - Audit and search in the picker. A vulnerability audit (
s) cross-referenced against the bump, plus search (/) and live dependency-type toggles. npm-upgrade shows changelogs but has no audit or search. - Headless and CI. A read-only
--checkgate, a versioned JSON report, and a GitHub Action for rolling upgrade PRs.
Where npm-upgrade is stronger — use it if you need these
- A simple one-by-one flow. It walks each dependency with a Yes / No / Show changelog / Ignore prompt — minimal and focused for small npm projects.
- Global packages. A
--globalmode upgrades your globally installed npm packages, which inup does not do.
Honest verdict: for a small npm-only project and a minimal one-at-a-time flow, npm-upgrade is a fine, focused choice. For anything with yarn/pnpm/bun, a monorepo, or a need for audit and CI, inup does more.
Try it in any project: npx inup
Frequently asked questions
How is inup different from npm-upgrade?
Both are interactive and both can show a changelog while you upgrade. npm-upgrade is npm-only and works one package at a time. inup covers npm, yarn, pnpm and bun, handles monorepos and pnpm catalogs, adds a vulnerability audit and search in the picker, and has a headless CI/JSON mode and a GitHub Action.
Does npm-upgrade work with yarn, pnpm or bun?
No — npm-upgrade is npm-only. inup auto-detects and works with npm, yarn, pnpm and bun, and upgrades across every workspace in a monorepo in one pass.
What does inup add that npm-upgrade does not have?
A vulnerability audit cross-referenced against the upgrade, monorepo and pnpm-catalog support, search and dependency-type toggles in the picker, and a headless mode with a versioned JSON report and CI gate. npm-upgrade’s strengths are its simple one-by-one flow and a global (-g) upgrade mode.
Sources: npm-upgrade documentation, inup source. Verified 2026-07-09. Also see inup vs taze and inup vs updates.