axios vs superagent
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A promise-based HTTP client that works in both browsers and Node.js.
Open source · MIT
A small JavaScript library for making HTTP requests in Node.js and browsers.
The short answer
Choose axios if you need…
- JavaScript developers calling REST or other HTTP APIs from a browser front end
- Node.js developers who want one HTTP client API across client and server code
- Teams that want a widely used, MIT-licensed library with a large community
Choose superagent if you need…
- JavaScript developers who want one HTTP client API that works in both Node.js and browsers
- Projects that need to call web APIs with JSON request bodies and custom headers
- Developers who want to extend request behavior with plugins
- Teams that prefer callback, then/catch, or async/await styles
Side-by-side
| axios | superagent | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 109k | 16.6k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 44 days ago |
What each one is
axios
Axios is a JavaScript library for making HTTP requests, such as fetching data from a web API or sending form data to a server. It uses promises, so you can write asynchronous request code with async/await or .then() chains. The same API works in browser apps and in Node.js servers, which is why developers reach for it.
superagent
Superagent is a JavaScript library that sends HTTP requests, such as fetching data from or posting data to a web server. It uses the same API in Node.js and in the browser, and it supports common client features like JSON bodies, headers, query strings, and promises or callbacks. The README describes it as small and extensible through plugins.
Best for
axios
- JavaScript developers calling REST or other HTTP APIs from a browser front end
- Node.js developers who want one HTTP client API across client and server code
- Teams that want a widely used, MIT-licensed library with a large community
superagent
- JavaScript developers who want one HTTP client API that works in both Node.js and browsers
- Projects that need to call web APIs with JSON request bodies and custom headers
- Developers who want to extend request behavior with plugins
- Teams that prefer callback, then/catch, or async/await styles
Strengths
axios
- Same API for browser and Node.js environments
- Promise-based, which fits modern async/await code
- MIT licensed with a very large user base (about 109k GitHub stars)
superagent
- Same API works in Node.js and browsers, as the README states
- Extensible through a list of existing plugins such as superagent-cache and superagent-mock
- Supports callback, promise, and async/await usage styles
Not ideal for
axios
- Developers who only need a built-in fetch call and want zero dependencies, since the browser and Node.js already offer fetch
- Non-programmers looking for an end-user app; this is a code library, not a tool with a interface
- Projects that need a non-JavaScript language; the README covers only JavaScript usage
superagent
- Projects that only need the built-in fetch API and want zero dependencies, since the README does not compare sizes or dependency counts beyond the browser bundle size
- Users on older environments below Node v14.18.0 or the listed browser versions, because the README lists these as supported minimums
Trade-offs
axios
- The README notes a security-update notice for Axios v0, so version choice matters for maintenance
- Adds an external dependency where built-in fetch might be enough
- README is truncated here, so detailed API behavior is not fully confirmed from this source
superagent
- Browser support needs polyfills for some older browsers, such as WeakRef and BigInt on certain iOS Safari versions
- Breaking changes in earlier major versions were tied to stricter error handling, so upgrades need reading the release notes
Getting started
superagent
Install with npm
npm install superagentInstall with yarn
yarn add superagentFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between axios and superagent?
axios: A promise-based HTTP client that works in both browsers and Node.js. superagent: A small JavaScript library for making HTTP requests in Node.js and browsers. axios suits javascript developers calling rest or other http apis from a browser front end, while superagent suits javascript developers who want one http client api that works in both node.js and browsers.
Are axios and superagent free?
axios: Free and open source. superagent: Free and open source.
Is axios or superagent more popular?
axios has more GitHub stars (109k) than superagent (16.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to axios and superagent?
Other options people compare them with include ky, got, window.fetch polyfill.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.