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Is ora ESM-only? Can you require() it?

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against ora@9.4.1. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.4.1

ora dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.4.1, published Jun 8, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("ora") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and ora@9.4.1 declares Node.js >=20, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

ora@9.4.1 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("ora") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const ora = await import("ora"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install ora@5.4.1, the last CommonJS release (published Jun 8, 2021); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. ora@9.4.1 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
9.4.1 (Jun 22, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.4.1
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Aug 23, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
79.8M
License
MIT

Does ora@9.4.1 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("ora") from a CommonJS file and import "ora" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("ora")import "ora"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsSyntaxError
Node.js 20✓ works✓ works
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import ora

ES modules (import)

import * as ora from "ora";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const ora = require("ora");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const ora = await import("ora");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install ora@5.4.1

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (57 versions; the newest 57 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 9.4.1ESM-onlyAug 23, 2021
0.1.0 – 5.4.1CommonJSMar 3, 2016

Frequently asked

Is ora ESM-only?

ora@9.4.1 is ESM-only. ora dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.4.1, published Jun 8, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of ora still supports CommonJS / require()?

5.4.1 is the last version of ora with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install ora@5.4.1". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use ora from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const ora = await import("ora"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("ora") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin ora@5.4.1 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does ora work in Bun?

Yes. import "ora" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does ora ship TypeScript types?

Yes. ora bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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