Axios vs node-fetch vs got
Compare the most popular JavaScript HTTP clients by downloads, growth, and adoption
Weekly Downloads — Last 6 Months
Weekly
90.4M
Monthly
361.5M
Growth
+13%
Bundle (gzip)
13.9 kB
Weekly
108.6M
Monthly
430.7M
Growth
+21%
Bundle (gzip)
22.6 kB
Package Breakdown
The universal HTTP client with interceptors and broad compatibility
✓ Best For
Browser applications needing interceptors, projects requiring consistent API across browser and Node.js, and teams familiar with Axios patterns
✗ Weakness
Adds bundle weight to browser apps, native fetch has mostly caught up for simple use cases
A fetch API polyfill for older Node.js versions
✓ Best For
Node.js projects that need fetch API compatibility on Node.js versions below 18
✗ Weakness
Largely obsolete for Node.js 18+ projects where native fetch is available
Feature-rich HTTP client built specifically for Node.js
✓ Best For
Node.js applications needing retry logic, pagination, timeouts, and complex request handling
✗ Weakness
Node.js only — cannot be used in browsers, smaller community than Axios
Which HTTP Client Should You Use?
For browser applications in 2026, native fetch with a thin wrapper is often sufficient. For more complex needs — interceptors for auth tokens, request/response transformation — Axios remains the practical choice due to its maturity and the number of tutorials and patterns available.
For Node.js backend applications on Node 18+, native fetch handles simple requests. For anything requiring retries, timeouts, pagination, or hooks — got is the better choice over Axios in a pure Node environment.
node-fetch's relevance is fading. If you're on Node 18+, you have native fetch. If you're on an older version, upgrading Node is a better investment than adding node-fetch.
Recommended: axios
Still the most versatile choice for projects that span browser and Node.js environments.
Which to Use For Each Use Case
| Use Case | Winner |
|---|---|
| React/Vue frontend app | axios |
| Node.js 18+ backend | got |
| Node.js below 18 | node-fetch |
| CLI tool or scraper | got |
FAQ
Should I replace Axios with native fetch?+
Is node-fetch still relevant in 2026?+
What is the bundle size of Axios vs native fetch?+
Related Comparisons
HTTP requests are fundamental to almost every JavaScript application. Axios became the go-to solution for years — its promise-based API, request/response interceptors, and browser/Node.js compatibility made it universally adopted. But the native fetch API, now available in both browsers and Node.js 18+, has changed the landscape significantly. node-fetch and got each address different shortcomings in different ways.
The download numbers here include millions of CI/CD systems, automated tools, and legacy projects — making absolute numbers less meaningful than growth trajectories for understanding which library developers are choosing for new projects today.
Why There Are So Many HTTP Clients
JavaScript HTTP clients proliferated because each environment had different needs. Browsers had XMLHttpRequest (verbose) then fetch (clean but lacking features). Node.js had the built-in http module (low-level) and needed higher-level abstractions. Axios solved both by providing a consistent API across environments.
Node.js 18 changed the equation by shipping with native fetch, eliminating the need for node-fetch as a polyfill. Now the question isn't "how do I make HTTP requests in Node.js" but "does native fetch have everything I need, or do I need an abstraction?"
Got, maintained by Sindre Sorhus, targets Node.js specifically and provides features that native fetch lacks: retry logic, timeout handling, pagination, and hooks. It's the choice for Node.js applications with complex HTTP requirements. Axios remains dominant due to legacy adoption and its interceptor system.
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