axios vs superagent
Side-by-side comparison of axios and superagent
- Weekly Downloads
- 85.3M
- Stars
- 108.6K
- Gzip Size
- 57.7 kB
- License
- MIT
- Last Updated
- 10h ago
- Open Issues
- 314
- Forks
- 11.5K
- Unpacked Size
- 2.3 MB
- Dependencies
- 27
- Weekly Downloads
- 15.0M
- Stars
- 16.7K
- Gzip Size
- 94.0 kB
- License
- MIT
- Last Updated
- 1mo ago
- Open Issues
- 180
- Forks
- 1.3K
- Unpacked Size
- 544.5 kB
- Dependencies
- 39
Download Trends
Verdict
axios excels as a versatile HTTP client suitable for both browser and Node.js environments, making it a reliable choice for developers needing a Promise-based model. Its extensive weekly downloads and GitHub stars indicate strong community support, and its compact bundle size ensures quick loading times.
superagent offers a more elegant and feature-rich API but has a smaller community presence compared to axios. It is preferable for projects requiring a fluent API with extensive customization, especially when developer experience is a priority.
While both packages use the MIT license and can serve similar purposes, axios's broader adoption and greater performance in typical web scenarios make it a strong recommendation for most applications. Conversely, if the development team has significant experience with superagent's API and prefers its style, it could be a viable alternative.
Detailed Comparison
| Criteria | axios | superagent |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Both use the permissive MIT license, ensuring flexibility. | Same as axios regarding the MIT license. |
| API Design | Offers a straightforward, Promise-based API for ease of use. | ✓Elegant and feature-rich with a fluent API, attractive for advanced use. |
| Open Issues | 314 open issues reflect active development but some technical debt. | ✓Fewer issues at 180, suggesting a more stable package. |
| Last Updated | ✓Most recent update was on February 8, 2026, indicating ongoing maintenance. | Updated on January 6, 2026, showing regular, but less frequent updates. |
| Unpacked Size | ✓More compact at 2.3 MB, easier to manage in terms of asset size. | Significantly larger at 544.5 kB, which may deter usage in some scenarios. |
| Overall Popularity | ✓Strong community support and high weekly downloads indicate widespread usage. | Lower download counts reflect a more niche user base. |
| Community Engagement | ✓High GitHub star count of 108.6K suggests strong community involvement. | Moderate interest with 16.7K stars indicates a smaller community. |
| Performance (Bundle Size) | ✓Gzip size of 57.7 kB is lightweight for optimal performance. | Larger at 94.0 kB, potentially affecting load times. |