Axios Alternatives: Exploring Top HTTP Clients in 2025

Key Takeaways

• Axios has been a popular choice for HTTP requests, but modern web development offers powerful alternatives like the native Fetch API, Got, Ky, and SuperAgent.
• The choice of an HTTP client depends on project needs, environment (browser vs. Node.js), and desired features such as interceptors, error handling, and bundle size.
• Fetch API, with its native browser support and promise-based interface, is a strong contender for many modern web projects, often requiring minimal polyfills.
• Libraries like Got and Ky offer a more developer-friendly experience with additional features and cleaner syntax, building upon Fetch or providing Node.js-specific enhancements.
• For complex data acquisition and web scraping scenarios, specialized tools like Scrapeless can complement these HTTP clients by handling proxy management, anti-bot bypass, and JavaScript rendering, ensuring reliable data delivery.

Introduction

Axios has long been the go-to HTTP client for many JavaScript developers, praised for its ease of use, robust features like interceptors, and consistent API across browser and Node.js environments. However, the landscape of web development is constantly evolving. With the native Fetch API gaining more widespread adoption and new, specialized libraries emerging, developers in 2025 have a broader array of choices than ever before. The question is no longer just about using Axios, but about understanding its alternatives and when to choose them. This comprehensive guide, "Axios Alternatives: Exploring Top HTTP Clients in 2025," delves into the leading contenders that can replace or augment Axios in your projects. We will examine their features, advantages, and ideal use cases, providing code examples and a detailed comparison to help you make an informed decision. Furthermore, we will explore how a service like Scrapeless can complement these HTTP clients, particularly in demanding data acquisition and web scraping tasks, by offering a robust solution for web access.

Why Consider Axios Alternatives?

Axios has served the JavaScript community well, but several factors might lead developers to explore other options:

• Native Fetch API Improvements: The browser's native Fetch API has matured significantly, offering a powerful, promise-based interface that covers many of Axios's core functionalities without external dependencies.
• Bundle Size Concerns: For frontend applications, reducing bundle size is crucial for performance. Axios, being a feature-rich library, can add to the overall size, prompting a look at leaner alternatives.
• Specific Use Cases: Some projects might benefit from more specialized HTTP clients that offer unique features tailored for Node.js environments (e.g., streaming, retry mechanisms) or a more minimalist approach.
• Modern JavaScript Ecosystem: The JavaScript ecosystem is dynamic, with new libraries and patterns constantly emerging. Exploring alternatives ensures developers stay updated with the latest best practices and tools.
• Performance Optimization: While Axios is generally performant, certain alternatives might offer marginal gains in specific scenarios or provide more fine-grained control over network requests.

Understanding these motivations is key to appreciating the value that each alternative brings to the table. Let's dive into some of the most prominent Axios alternatives available today.

Top Axios Alternatives in 2025

Here, we review 10 significant alternatives to Axios, covering a range of functionalities from native browser APIs to specialized Node.js libraries. Each section will provide an overview, key features, and code examples.

1. Fetch API

The Fetch API is a modern, promise-based API for making HTTP requests in web browsers and increasingly in Node.js environments (via node-fetch or native support). It's built into the browser, meaning zero additional dependencies for client-side applications. It offers a powerful and flexible way to handle network requests.

Key Features:

• Native browser support, reducing bundle size.
• Promise-based, integrating seamlessly with async/await.
• Supports Streams for large data requests/responses.
• No external dependencies for browser environments.

Pros:

• Built-in and lightweight.
• Modern, promise-based syntax.
• Good for basic to moderately complex requests.

Cons:

• Does not automatically throw errors for HTTP 4xx/5xx responses; requires manual response.ok check.
• No built-in request/response interceptors.
• Limited progress tracking for uploads/downloads.
• No built-in request cancellation (requires AbortController).

Use Cases:

• Simple GET/POST requests in web applications.
• Projects where bundle size is a critical concern.
• When native browser features are preferred over third-party libraries.

Code Example (GET Request):

async function fetchData(url) {
  try {
    const response = await fetch(url);
    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
    }
    const data = await response.json();
    console.log(data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data:", error);
  }
}

fetchData("https://api.example.com/data");

2. Got

Got is a powerful, human-friendly, and highly performant HTTP request library specifically designed for Node.js. It builds upon the native Node.js http module but provides a much more ergonomic API, robust error handling, and advanced features like retries, timeouts, and streaming.

Key Features:

• Streamlined API for Node.js HTTP requests.
• Automatic retries, timeouts, and error handling.
• Supports HTTP/2 and HTTP/3.
• Built-in caching and progress events.
• Extensive plugin system for custom functionality.

Pros:

• Excellent for Node.js server-side applications.
• Robust and feature-rich.
• Good performance and reliability.

Cons:

• Node.js only (not for browser environments).
• Can be overkill for simple requests.

Use Cases:

• Backend services making external API calls.
• CLI tools requiring robust HTTP capabilities.
• Web scraping scripts running on Node.js that need advanced features like retries and timeouts.

Code Example (GET Request with Retries):

import got from 'got';

async function fetchDataWithGot(url) {
  try {
    const response = await got(url, {
      retry: {
        limit: 3,
        methods: ['GET'],
        statusCodes: [408, 413, 429, 500, 502, 503, 504],
        errorCodes: ['ETIMEDOUT', 'ECONNRESET', 'EADDRINUSE'],
      },
      timeout: {
        request: 5000 // 5 seconds
      }
    });
    console.log(response.body);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data with Got:", error);
  }
}

fetchDataWithGot("https://api.example.com/data");

3. Ky

Ky is a tiny and elegant HTTP client based on the browser's Fetch API, designed for modern browsers. It provides a more developer-friendly experience than raw Fetch, adding features like automatic JSON parsing, retries, and a cleaner API, while maintaining a small footprint.

Key Features:

• Built on Fetch API, small bundle size.
• Automatic JSON parsing and error handling.
• Built-in retries with exponential backoff.
• Intuitive API.

Pros:

• Minimalist yet powerful.
• Excellent for browser-based applications.
• Improved developer experience over raw Fetch.

Cons:

• Browser-only (requires ky-universal for Node.js, which wraps node-fetch).
• Fewer advanced features compared to Axios or Got.

Use Cases:

• Frontend web applications needing a lightweight and user-friendly HTTP client.
• Projects where a small bundle size is a priority.

Code Example (GET Request with Retries):

import ky from 'ky';

async function fetchDataWithKy(url) {
  try {
    const data = await ky.get(url, {
      retry: {
        limit: 3,
        methods: ['get'],
        statusCodes: [408, 413, 429, 500, 502, 503, 504]
      }
    }).json();
    console.log(data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data with Ky:", error);
  }
}

fetchDataWithKy("https://api.example.com/data");

4. SuperAgent

SuperAgent is a small, progressive client-side HTTP request library for Node.js and browsers. It offers a fluent API and supports various features like plugins, multipart requests, and request cancellation. It's been around for a while and remains a solid choice for many projects.

Key Features:

• Fluent, chainable API.
• Supports both Node.js and browsers.
• Plugins for extending functionality.
• Handles multipart/form-data and file uploads.

Pros:

• Versatile, works in both environments.
• Easy to use with a clear syntax.
• Good for complex form submissions.

Cons:

• Older codebase compared to newer alternatives.
• Error handling can be less intuitive than Axios or Fetch.

Use Cases:

• Applications requiring file uploads or complex form data.
• Projects needing a single HTTP client for both frontend and backend.

Code Example (GET Request):

import request from 'superagent';

async function fetchDataWithSuperAgent(url) {
  try {
    const response = await request.get(url);
    console.log(response.body);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data with SuperAgent:", error);
  }
}

fetchDataWithSuperAgent("https://api.example.com/data");

5. Node-fetch

Node-fetch is a lightweight module that brings the browser's Fetch API to Node.js. It provides a familiar interface for developers accustomed to Fetch in the browser, allowing for consistent code patterns across different JavaScript environments. It's essentially a polyfill for Fetch in Node.js.

Key Features:

• Implements the Fetch API standard in Node.js.
• Promise-based.
• Lightweight and minimal dependencies.

Pros:

• Consistency with browser Fetch API.
• Small footprint.
• Good for Node.js projects that want to use the Fetch API.

Cons:

• Lacks advanced features like interceptors, automatic retries, and timeouts (these need to be implemented manually or with other libraries).
• Does not automatically throw errors for HTTP 4xx/5xx responses.

Use Cases:

• Node.js applications where developers prefer the Fetch API syntax.
• Projects aiming for isomorphic JavaScript code that uses Fetch on both client and server.

Code Example (GET Request):

import fetch from 'node-fetch';

async function fetchDataWithNodeFetch(url) {
  try {
    const response = await fetch(url);
    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
    }
    const data = await response.json();
    console.log(data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data with node-fetch:", error);
  }
}

fetchDataWithNodeFetch("https://api.example.com/data");

6. Alova

Alova is a relatively new, lightweight request strategy library that aims to provide a more comprehensive solution for API interaction, focusing on performance and developer experience. It can be used as an alternative to Axios or even react-query, offering features like request sharing, caching, and state management.

Key Features:

• Request sharing and caching.
• Automatic state management for requests.
• Supports various frameworks (Vue, React, Svelte).
• Lightweight and extensible.

Pros:

• Optimized for performance with request sharing.
• Simplifies state management around API calls.
• Framework-agnostic.

Cons:

• Newer library, smaller community compared to established ones.
• Might be overkill for very simple projects.

Use Cases:

• Complex frontend applications requiring advanced request management and caching.
• Projects looking for a unified solution for API calls and state management.

Code Example (GET Request):

// Assuming Alova is set up with a `createAlova` instance
import { createAlova } from 'alova';
import GlobalFetch from 'alova/fetch';

const alovaInstance = createAlova({
  baseURL: 'https://api.example.com',
  requestAdapter: GlobalFetch(),
});

async function fetchDataWithAlova() {
  try {
    const { data } = await alovaInstance.Get('/data').send();
    console.log(data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data with Alova:", error);
  }
}

fetchDataWithAlova();

7. jQuery.ajax()

While jQuery is less common in modern frontend development, its $.ajax() method remains a widely recognized way to make HTTP requests, especially in legacy projects or those already using jQuery for DOM manipulation. It provides a comprehensive set of options for configuring requests.

Key Features:

• Part of the jQuery library.
• Extensive configuration options.
• Supports various data types and cross-domain requests.

Pros:

• Familiar to many developers.
• Robust for a wide range of HTTP tasks.

Cons:

• Requires the entire jQuery library, which can be heavy if only used for AJAX.
• Promise-like interface (Deferred objects) is not as modern as native Promises.
• Less common in new projects.

Use Cases:

• Maintaining or extending existing projects that already use jQuery.
• Simple AJAX requests where jQuery is already a dependency.

Code Example (GET Request):

// Assuming jQuery is loaded
$.ajax({
  url: "https://api.example.com/data",
  method: "GET",
  dataType: "json",
  success: function(data) {
    console.log(data);
  },
  error: function(xhr, status, error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data with jQuery:", error);
  }
});

8. XMLHttpRequest (XHR)

XMLHttpRequest is the foundational API for making HTTP requests in browsers, upon which many older AJAX libraries were built. While rarely used directly in modern applications due to its callback-based nature and complexity, understanding XHR is fundamental to comprehending how browser HTTP requests work.

Key Features:

• Native browser API.
• Synchronous and asynchronous requests.
• Fine-grained control over requests.

Pros:

• Universal browser support.
• No external dependencies.

Cons:

• Callback-hell prone (unless wrapped in Promises).
• Verbose and less ergonomic than modern alternatives.
• Not suitable for new development.

Use Cases:

• Low-level browser HTTP request implementations.
• Learning the fundamentals of browser network requests.

Code Example (GET Request):

const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhr.open("GET", "https://api.example.com/data");
xhr.responseType = "json";
xhr.onload = () => {
  if (xhr.status >= 200 && xhr.status < 300) {
    console.log(xhr.response);
  } else {
    console.error("Error fetching data with XHR:", xhr.statusText);
  }
};
xhr.onerror = () => {
  console.error("Network error with XHR");
};
xhr.send();

9. Unirest

Unirest is a set of lightweight HTTP client libraries available for multiple languages, including Node.js. It aims to provide a simple, fluent API for making HTTP requests, abstracting away much of the underlying complexity. It's known for its ease of use and consistent interface across different programming languages.

Key Features:

• Fluent, chainable API.
• Supports various HTTP methods.
• Available for multiple languages.

Pros:

• Simple and easy to learn.
• Consistent API across different platforms.

Cons:

• Less actively maintained compared to other popular libraries.
• Fewer advanced features than Axios or Got.

Use Cases:

• Projects requiring a simple HTTP client with a fluent interface.
• Cross-language development where a consistent API is desired.

Code Example (GET Request):

import unirest from 'unirest';

async function fetchDataWithUnirest(url) {
  try {
    const response = await unirest.get(url);
    console.log(response.body);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data with Unirest:", error);
  }
}

fetchDataWithUnirest("https://api.example.com/data");

10. HTTPie

HTTPie is not a JavaScript library but a command-line HTTP client. While not a direct code alternative, it's an invaluable tool for developers to test APIs, debug requests, and understand HTTP interactions. Its user-friendly interface and rich features make it a powerful alternative to curl for manual API testing and development workflows.

Key Features:

• Intuitive command-line interface.
• Syntax highlighting and formatted output.
• Supports JSON, forms, and file uploads.
• Plugins for extended functionality.

Pros:

• Excellent for API testing and debugging.
• Human-friendly syntax.
• Cross-platform.

Cons:

• Not a programmatic library for integration into applications.
• Requires command-line usage.

Use Cases:

• API development and testing.
• Debugging HTTP requests.
• Quick data retrieval from APIs during development.

Code Example (Command Line):

http GET https://api.example.com/data

Comparison Summary: Axios vs. Alternatives

Choosing the Right HTTP Client in 2025

Selecting the best HTTP client depends heavily on your project's specific requirements. Here's a guide to help you decide:

• For Modern Browser-only Applications: If you prioritize minimal bundle size and leverage native browser features, the Fetch API is an excellent choice. For a more developer-friendly experience with features like automatic JSON parsing and retries, Ky is a fantastic alternative that builds on Fetch.
• For Node.js Backend Services: When working purely in Node.js and needing robust features like automatic retries, timeouts, and streaming, Got stands out as a powerful and reliable option. Node-fetch is suitable if you prefer the Fetch API syntax in a Node.js environment.
• For Isomorphic Applications (Browser & Node.js): If you need a single codebase for both frontend and backend, Axios still provides a consistent API. SuperAgent is another viable option, though its API might feel less modern.
• For Legacy Projects: If your project already uses jQuery, sticking with jQuery.ajax() might be the most practical approach to avoid introducing new dependencies.
• For Advanced API Interaction and State Management: Alova offers a compelling solution for complex frontend applications that require sophisticated request management, caching, and state synchronization.
• For API Testing and Debugging: HTTPie is an indispensable command-line tool for quickly testing and debugging API endpoints, offering a much more pleasant experience than curl.

Ultimately, the

decision comes down to balancing features, bundle size, developer experience, and the specific needs of your project. Don't be afraid to experiment with different libraries to find what best fits your workflow.

Why Scrapeless is Your Essential Partner for Web Scraping

While the HTTP clients discussed above are excellent for making API calls and fetching web content, web scraping often involves a layer of complexity that goes beyond simple HTTP requests. Websites employ various anti-bot measures, dynamic content loading, and complex JavaScript rendering that can quickly thwart even the most sophisticated HTTP client. This is where a specialized service like Scrapeless becomes an invaluable partner, complementing your chosen HTTP client.

Scrapeless is a universal web scraping API designed to handle the intricate challenges of web access. It acts as an intelligent proxy layer, managing proxy rotation, bypassing CAPTCHAs and other anti-bot mechanisms, and rendering JavaScript-heavy pages to deliver clean, structured data. When you integrate Scrapeless into your web scraping workflow, you can continue to use your preferred HTTP client (be it Fetch, Got, or Axios) for making requests, but instead of directly targeting the website, you send your requests to the Scrapeless API. Scrapeless then takes care of:

• Proxy Management: Automatically rotating IP addresses from a vast pool of residential and datacenter proxies to avoid IP bans and rate limiting.
• Anti-Bot Bypass: Intelligently navigating and bypassing sophisticated anti-scraping technologies, including Cloudflare, reCAPTCHA, and other bot detection systems.
• JavaScript Rendering: Fully rendering dynamic web pages, ensuring that all content, including that loaded by JavaScript, is available for extraction.
• Geo-Targeting: Allowing you to specify the geographic location of your requests, crucial for accessing region-specific content.
• Simplified Integration: Providing a straightforward API that integrates seamlessly with any programming language or HTTP client, allowing you to focus on data parsing rather than web access challenges.

By offloading the complexities of web access to Scrapeless, you enhance the reliability and scalability of your web scraping operations. It allows your chosen HTTP client to perform its core function of making requests efficiently, while Scrapeless ensures those requests are successful and return the complete, rendered web content, regardless of the target website's defenses. This partnership significantly reduces development time, maintenance overhead, and the frustration associated with blocked requests, making your web scraping projects more robust and efficient.

Conclusion and Call to Action

The choice of an HTTP client in 2025 is more nuanced than ever, with a rich ecosystem offering alternatives to the long-standing champion, Axios. From the native simplicity of the Fetch API and the Node.js power of Got, to the browser-friendly elegance of Ky, developers have a wealth of options to perfectly match their project's needs. Each alternative brings its own strengths in terms of features, performance, and developer experience, making it essential to evaluate them against your specific requirements for environment, bundle size, and desired functionalities.

However, for tasks involving web scraping and complex data acquisition, merely choosing the right HTTP client is often not enough. The dynamic and defensive nature of modern websites necessitates a more robust approach to web access. This is where services like Scrapeless become indispensable. By handling the intricacies of proxy management, anti-bot bypass, and JavaScript rendering, Scrapeless empowers your chosen HTTP client to perform its best, ensuring reliable and scalable data extraction.

Ready to optimize your API calls and conquer web scraping challenges with unparalleled efficiency?

Explore Scrapeless today and see how it can complement your HTTP client for seamless data acquisition!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: Is Axios still relevant in 2025?

A1: Yes, Axios remains a highly relevant and popular HTTP client in 2025, especially for projects requiring a consistent API across both browser and Node.js environments, and for its robust features like interceptors. However, the rise of the native Fetch API and specialized alternatives means developers have more choices, and the best tool depends on specific project needs.

Q2: When should I choose Fetch API over Axios or other libraries?

A2: You should consider Fetch API when working in modern browser-only environments, prioritizing minimal bundle size, and when you are comfortable handling error checks and other features (like request cancellation) manually or with lightweight wrappers. It's excellent for simple to moderately complex requests where external dependencies are to be avoided.

Q3: What makes Got a good alternative for Node.js projects?

A3: Got is an excellent alternative for Node.js projects due to its powerful features specifically designed for server-side applications. It offers robust error handling, automatic retries, timeouts, streaming capabilities, and a developer-friendly API, making it ideal for backend services and web scraping scripts running in Node.js.

Q4: Can I use these alternatives for web scraping?

A4: Yes, you can use these HTTP clients for web scraping to make the initial requests. However, for serious web scraping, especially from websites with anti-bot measures or dynamic content, you will likely need to combine them with a specialized web scraping API like Scrapeless. Scrapeless handles proxy management, anti-bot bypass, and JavaScript rendering, ensuring successful data extraction.

Q5: How does Scrapeless complement these HTTP clients for web scraping?

A5: Scrapeless acts as an intelligent layer that sits between your HTTP client and the target website. While your HTTP client makes the request, Scrapeless ensures that the request successfully reaches the website by managing proxies, bypassing anti-bot systems, and rendering JavaScript. This allows your HTTP client to focus on making the request, while Scrapeless handles the complexities of web access, delivering clean and complete web content.

References

[1] ZenRows: 7 Best Axios Alternatives for Developers: ZenRows Axios Alternatives
[2] Apidog: Axios Alternatives: Exploring Top Tools for Seamless API Integration: Apidog Axios Alternatives
[3] AppSignal Blog: Top 5 HTTP Request Libraries for Node.js: AppSignal Node.js HTTP Libraries
[4] LogRocket: Axios vs. Fetch (2025 update): Which should you use for ...: LogRocket Axios vs. Fetch
[5] FreeCodeCamp: Fetch API vs. Axios vs. Alova: Which HTTP Client Should ...: FreeCodeCamp HTTP Client Comparison