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Comparison guide

@tanstack/react-query vs Axios

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Hero image for @tanstack/react-query vs Axios

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

@tanstack/react-query

13.4 KB gzipped

Most Popular

Axios

114.0M weekly downloads

Best Maintained

@tanstack/react-query

100/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

@tanstack/react-query

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Axios

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

  1. @tanstack/react-query

    Hooks for managing, caching and syncing asynchronous and remote data in React

    66.9M weekly downloads · 13.4 KB gzip · Health 85/100

    0
  2. axios

    Promise based HTTP client for the browser and node.js

    114.0M weekly downloads · 18.5 KB gzip · Health 85/100

    0

Choosing between @tanstack/react-query and Axios? 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 114.0M weekly downloads — roughly 1.7x more. @tanstack/react-query has 66.9M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

@tanstack/react-query has the smallest gzipped bundle at 13.4 KB. Axios comes in at 18.5 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

@tanstack/react-query has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Axios has an overall health score of 85/100 (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 @tanstack/react-query if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Axios if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both @tanstack/react-query and Axios are solid choices for JavaScript development. @tanstack/react-query 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 @tanstack/react-query better than axios?
It depends on your needs. @tanstack/react-query has a health score of 85/100 while Axios scores 85/100. Axios has more recorded weekly downloads (114.0M). Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, @tanstack/react-query or axios?
@tanstack/react-query has the smaller gzipped bundle at 13.4 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use @tanstack/react-query vs axios?
Axios has more recorded weekly downloads (114.0M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, @tanstack/react-query or axios?
@tanstack/react-query has a maintenance score of 100/100. @tanstack/react-query scores 100/100 and Axios scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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