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

Promisify a callback-style function

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against pify@6.1.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.0.0

pify dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (June 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.0.0, published Feb 14, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("pify") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("pify") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("pify") 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 pify = await import("pify"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=14.16).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install pify@5.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Feb 14, 2020); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
6.1.0 (Sep 2, 2022)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.0.0
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Jun 6, 2022)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=14.16
Weekly downloads
102.9M
License
MIT

Does pify@6.1.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("pify")import "pify"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✓ works
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 pify

ES modules (import)

import * as pify from "pify";

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 pify = require("pify");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=14.16), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const pify = await import("pify");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install pify@5.0.0

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 (13 versions; the newest 13 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 6.1.0ESM-onlyJun 6, 2022
1.0.0 – 5.0.0CommonJSAug 29, 2015

Frequently asked

Is pify ESM-only?

pify@6.1.0 is ESM-only. pify dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (June 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.0.0, published Feb 14, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

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

5.0.0 is the last version of pify with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install pify@5.0.0". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use pify from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const pify = await import("pify"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=14.16). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("pify") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin pify@5.0.0 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does pify work in Bun?

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

Does pify ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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