Axios vs Superagent

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

superagent

Extremely Popular

Version 10.3.0

79
Good

elegant & feature rich browser / node HTTP with a fluent API

Weekly Downloads
16.1M
30%
Bundle (gzip)
18.3 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
80
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Axios and Superagent? 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 6.0x more. Superagent has 16.1M 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. Superagent comes in at 18.3 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. Superagent 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 Superagent if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Axios and Superagent 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 superagent?
It depends on your needs. Axios has a health score of 85/100 while Superagent 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 superagent?
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 superagent?
Based on npm download statistics, Axios has approximately 96.1M weekly downloads and Superagent has approximately 16.1M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, axios or superagent?
Axios currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Axios has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Superagent scores 80/100 on maintenance.

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