axios vs supertest
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 Node.js library for writing HTTP tests against your server with a chainable API.
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 supertest if you need…
- Node.js developers who want to test their HTTP routes or API endpoints
- Teams using Express or another Node.js HTTP framework with a test runner like Mocha
- Developers who want to check headers, cookies, or response bodies in one readable chain
- Projects that need to test file uploads or cookie-based sessions
Side-by-side
| axios | supertest | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 109k | 14.4k |
| 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 | 7 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.
supertest
Supertest is a JavaScript library that lets you send requests to a Node.js HTTP server and check the responses, such as status codes, headers, and body content, in your automated tests. It uses a chainable style built on top of the superagent request library. You can pass it an Express-style app or a URL, and it handles starting a temporary server for you when needed.
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
supertest
- Node.js developers who want to test their HTTP routes or API endpoints
- Teams using Express or another Node.js HTTP framework with a test runner like Mocha
- Developers who want to check headers, cookies, or response bodies in one readable chain
- Projects that need to test file uploads or cookie-based sessions
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)
supertest
- Simple chainable API that reads close to the request being tested
- Works with any test framework, according to the README, and with mocha examples shown
- Starts an ephemeral port automatically, so you do not need to manage ports
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
supertest
- People who are not writing or testing Node.js code, since it is only for Node.js HTTP servers
- Those who need full browser-based end-to-end testing, because the README describes HTTP-level testing rather than browser automation
- Projects that need a test framework of their own, since the README says it works with any framework but does not include one
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
supertest
- Assertion failures in the .end() callback do not throw on their own, so you must pass errors to done() or rethrow them, which is easy to get wrong
- Documentation in the README is brief and the API section is short, so some behavior needs to be checked in superagent docs
- The README is truncated, so details about the full feature set are not fully visible
Getting started
supertest
Install as a dev dependency
npm install supertest --save-devFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between axios and supertest?
axios: A promise-based HTTP client that works in both browsers and Node.js. supertest: A Node.js library for writing HTTP tests against your server with a chainable API. axios suits javascript developers calling rest or other http apis from a browser front end, while supertest suits node.js developers who want to test their http routes or api endpoints.
Are axios and supertest free?
axios: Free and open source. supertest: Free and open source.
Is axios or supertest more popular?
axios has more GitHub stars (109k) than supertest (14.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to axios and supertest?
Other options people compare them with include ky, got, superagent, window.fetch polyfill, testify.
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.