Head-to-Head: node-fetch vs Superagent Analysis

node-fetch

v3.3.2(over 1 year ago)

This package was last published over a year ago. It may not be actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 3Monthly npm downloads

Node-fetch is a lightweight and efficient library that brings window.fetch to Node.js environments. It allows you to make HTTP requests in a simple and straightforward manner, supporting features like streaming, promises, and async/await syntax. Node-fetch is known for its ease of use and compatibility with the Fetch API, making it a popular choice for handling network requests in Node.js applications.

Alternatives:
axios+
got+
superagent+
request+
isomorphic-fetch+
node-superfetch+
undici+
ky+
phin+
centra+

Tags: node.jshttpfetchpromisesasync/await

superagent

v10.1.1(24 days ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are provided via a separate npm package: @types/superagentNumber of direct dependencies: 9Monthly npm downloads

Superagent is a lightweight and flexible HTTP client library for Node.js and browsers, designed for making HTTP requests with ease. It supports all HTTP methods, including GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and more, and provides a simple and intuitive API for handling requests and responses. Superagent also offers features like setting headers, handling cookies, and working with streams.

Alternatives:
axios+
node-fetch+
got+
request+
fetch+
needle+
axios-retry+
undici+
wretch+
ky+

Tags: node.jshttp-clienthttp-requestsbrowsersflexible

Fight!

Popularity

Both Node-fetch and Superagent are popular npm packages for making HTTP requests in Node.js. Superagent has been around for longer and has a larger user base, but Node-fetch has gained popularity in recent years and is widely used as well.

Ease of Use

Superagent provides a simple and intuitive API for making HTTP requests. It has a chainable syntax that allows you to easily configure and customize requests. Node-fetch, on the other hand, has a more minimalistic API and may require a bit more code to achieve the same level of customization.

Features

Both packages offer similar features such as setting headers, handling cookies, and handling redirects. Superagent provides additional features like automatic parsing of response bodies, support for streaming, and support for sending files. Node-fetch focuses on providing a minimalistic and lightweight solution, without including additional features.

Compatibility

Superagent is compatible with both Node.js and browsers, making it a versatile choice for making HTTP requests in different environments. Node-fetch is specifically designed for Node.js and may not work out of the box in browser environments.

Performance

Both packages offer good performance for making HTTP requests. Superagent is known for its efficient handling of large response bodies and streaming support. Node-fetch is also performant and is optimized for Node.js environments.

Community and Maintenance

Both Node-fetch and Superagent have active communities and are well-maintained. Superagent has been around for longer and has a larger community, which means it may have more resources and community support available. Node-fetch is also actively maintained and has a growing community.