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

> ora@9.4.1 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.4.1.

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against ora@9.4.1.

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.

## Facts

- 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

## Runtime test results for ora@9.4.1

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

| Runtime | require("ora") | import "ora" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) | fails (SyntaxError) |
| 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:

```js
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:

```js
// 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 (57 versions; the newest 57 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0.0 – 9.4.1 | ESM-only | Aug 23, 2021 |
| 0.1.0 – 5.4.1 | CommonJS | Mar 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

- [ora on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/ora)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/sindresorhus/ora)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/ora/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/ora.json)

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