ky
Tiny and elegant HTTP client based on the Fetch API
8.6M weekly downloads · 9.0 KB gzip · Health 79/100
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Comparison guide
Ky vs Node-fetch
Side-by-side NPM package comparison
Quick Verdict
Smallest Bundle
Ky
9.0 KB gzipped
Most Popular
Node-fetch
249.7M weekly downloads
Best Maintained
Ky
80/100 maintenance score
Highest Quality
Ky
50/100 quality score
Overall Pick
Ky
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 Ky 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 29.1x more. Ky has 8.6M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.
Bundle Size
Ky has the smallest gzipped bundle at 9.0 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
Ky has an overall health score of 79/100 (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 Ky if you value large community support, strong security track record. Choose Node-fetch if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record.
Our Verdict
Both Ky and Node-fetch are solid choices for JavaScript development. Ky has the edge in overall health score (79/100), 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 ky better than node-fetch?
- It depends on your needs. Ky has a health score of 79/100 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, ky or node-fetch?
- Ky has the smaller gzipped bundle at 9.0 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
- How many developers use ky vs node-fetch?
- Node-fetch has more recorded weekly downloads (249.7M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
- Which is better maintained, ky or node-fetch?
- Ky has a maintenance score of 80/100. Ky scores 80/100 and Node-fetch scores 20/100 on maintenance.
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