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Node-fetch vs Superagent

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

Node-fetch

31.4 KB gzipped

Most Popular

Node-fetch

130.0M weekly downloads

Best Maintained

Superagent

60/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

Node-fetch

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Node-fetch

Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality

node-fetch icon

node-fetch

Extremely Popular

Version 3.3.2

0
61
Good

A light-weight module that brings Fetch API to node.js

Weekly Downloads
130.0M
2%Stable
Bundle (gzip)
31.4 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
20
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70
superagent icon

superagent

Extremely Popular

Version 10.3.0

0
73
Good

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

Weekly Downloads
18.5M
4%
Bundle (gzip)
159.5 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
60
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Node-fetch 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

Node-fetch leads with 130.0M weekly downloads — roughly 7.0x more. Superagent has 18.5M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Node-fetch has the smallest gzipped bundle at 31.4 KB. Superagent comes in at 159.5 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Superagent has an overall health score of 73/100 (good), with strong 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 Node-fetch if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record. Choose Superagent if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Node-fetch and Superagent are solid choices for JavaScript development. Superagent has the edge in overall health score (73/100), 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 node-fetch better than superagent?
It depends on your needs. Node-fetch has a health score of 61/100 while Superagent scores 73/100. Node-fetch has more weekly downloads (130.0M), 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, node-fetch or superagent?
Node-fetch has the smaller gzipped bundle at 31.4 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use node-fetch vs superagent?
Based on npm download statistics, Node-fetch has approximately 130.0M weekly downloads and Superagent has approximately 18.5M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, node-fetch or superagent?
Superagent currently has the higher overall health score at 73/100. Node-fetch has a maintenance score of 20/100 and Superagent scores 60/100 on maintenance.

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