superagent 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 small JavaScript library for making HTTP requests in Node.js and browsers.
Open source · MIT
A Node.js library for writing HTTP tests against your server with a chainable API.
The short answer
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
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
| superagent | supertest | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 16.6k | 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 | 44 days ago | 7 days ago |
What each one is
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
superagent
Install with npm
npm install superagentInstall with yarn
yarn add superagentsupertest
Install as a dev dependency
npm install supertest --save-devFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between superagent and supertest?
superagent: A small JavaScript library for making HTTP requests in Node.js and browsers. supertest: A Node.js library for writing HTTP tests against your server with a chainable API. superagent suits javascript developers who want one http client api that works in both node.js and browsers, while supertest suits node.js developers who want to test their http routes or api endpoints.
Are superagent and supertest free?
superagent: Free and open source. supertest: Free and open source.
Is superagent or supertest more popular?
superagent has more GitHub stars (16.6k) than supertest (14.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to superagent and supertest?
Other options people compare them with include axios, got, ky, 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.