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Comparison guide

Node-fetch vs Superagent

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

Superagent

19.1 KB gzipped

Most Popular

Node-fetch

206.5M weekly downloads

Best Maintained

Superagent

100/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

Node-fetch

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Node-fetch

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

  1. node-fetch

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

    206.5M weekly downloads · 22.6 KB gzip · Health 61/100

    0
  2. superagent

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

    23.6M weekly downloads · 19.1 KB gzip · Health 85/100

    0

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 206.5M weekly downloads — roughly 8.8x more. Superagent has 23.6M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Superagent has the smallest gzipped bundle at 19.1 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

Superagent 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 Node-fetch if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record. Choose Superagent if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, 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 (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 node-fetch better than superagent?
It depends on your needs. Node-fetch has a health score of 61/100 while Superagent scores 85/100. Node-fetch has more recorded weekly downloads (206.5M). 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?
Superagent has the smaller gzipped bundle at 19.1 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?
Node-fetch has more recorded weekly downloads (206.5M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, node-fetch or superagent?
Superagent has a maintenance score of 100/100. Node-fetch scores 20/100 and Superagent scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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