Axios vs Ky

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

axios

Extremely Popular

Version 1.13.6

85
Excellent

Promise based HTTP client for the browser and node.js

Weekly Downloads
96.1M
29%
Bundle (gzip)
1.9 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

ky

Very Popular

Version 1.14.3

79
Good

Tiny and elegant HTTP client based on the Fetch API

Weekly Downloads
5.5M
35%
Bundle (gzip)
4.9 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
80
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Axios and Ky? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

Axios leads with 96.1M weekly downloads — roughly 17.4x more. Ky has 5.5M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Axios has the smallest gzipped bundle at 1.9 KB. Ky comes in at 4.9 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Axios has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Ky has an overall health score of 79/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Axios if you value massive community and ecosystem, minimal bundle footprint, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Ky if you value large community support, minimal bundle footprint, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Axios and Ky are solid choices for JavaScript development. Axios has the edge in overall health score (85/100), while each package brings unique strengths to the table. Evaluate them based on your project's priorities — whether that's community size, bundle efficiency, or maintenance activity — and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is axios better than ky?
It depends on your needs. Axios has a health score of 85/100 while Ky scores 79/100. Axios has more weekly downloads (96.1M), suggesting broader adoption. Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, axios or ky?
Axios has the smaller gzipped bundle at 1.9 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use axios vs ky?
Based on npm download statistics, Axios has approximately 96.1M weekly downloads and Ky has approximately 5.5M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, axios or ky?
Axios currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Axios has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Ky scores 80/100 on maintenance.

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