axios
Promise based HTTP client for the browser and node.js
139.9M weekly downloads · 18.5 KB gzip · Health 85/100
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Comparison guide
Axios vs Node-fetch
Side-by-side NPM package comparison
Quick Verdict
Smallest Bundle
Axios
18.5 KB gzipped
Most Popular
Node-fetch
249.7M weekly downloads
Best Maintained
Axios
100/100 maintenance score
Highest Quality
Axios
50/100 quality score
Overall Pick
Axios
Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality
node-fetch
A light-weight module that brings Fetch API to node.js
249.7M weekly downloads · 22.6 KB gzip · Health 61/100
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Choosing between Axios and Node-fetch? 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
Node-fetch leads with 249.7M weekly downloads — roughly 1.8x more. Axios has 139.9M 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 18.5 KB. Node-fetch comes in at 22.6 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. Node-fetch has an overall health score of 61/100 (good), with strong 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, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Node-fetch if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record.
Our Verdict
Both Axios and Node-fetch 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 node-fetch?
- It depends on your needs. Axios has a health score of 85/100 while Node-fetch scores 61/100. Node-fetch has more recorded weekly downloads (249.7M). 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 node-fetch?
- Axios has the smaller gzipped bundle at 18.5 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 node-fetch?
- Node-fetch has more recorded weekly downloads (249.7M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
- Which is better maintained, axios or node-fetch?
- Axios has a maintenance score of 100/100. Axios scores 100/100 and Node-fetch scores 20/100 on maintenance.
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The 2026 JavaScript Stack Cheatsheet
One PDF: the best package for every category (ORMs, bundlers, auth, testing, state management). Used by 500+ devs. Free, updated monthly.