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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. 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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 5.0.0, published Feb 14, 2020.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("pify") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

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✓ works✓ works

How to import pify

ES modules (import)

import pify from "pify";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const pify = require("pify");

// Any Node.js version:
const pify = await import("pify");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install pify@5.0.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 5.0.0, published Feb 14, 2020.

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

5.0.0 is the last version of pify with a CommonJS build. 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?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("pify"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("pify") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin pify@5.0.0.

Does pify work in Bun?

Yes. import "pify" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does pify ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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