got

The HTTP client Node.js deserved before fetch arrived. Got wraps HTTP requests in a clean, promise-based API with retries, timeouts, streams, pagination, and hooks built in. If you're building a Node backend that talks to external APIs, got handles the edge cases you'd otherwise discover in production.

Axios is the most popular alternative — simpler API, works in browsers too, but fewer advanced features. node-fetch brought the browser fetch API to Node. Undici is the performance-focused option from the Node.js team. ky is got's browser sibling from the same author.

Got's retry logic, response caching, and stream support are production-grade features you'd otherwise build yourself. The hook system lets you intercept requests and responses cleanly.

The catch: got is Node-only — no browser support. With native fetch now in Node.js 18+ and Undici gaining momentum, the case for an additional HTTP library is weaker than it used to be. The ESM-only move in recent versions also broke some CommonJS projects. If you don't need advanced features, native fetch is enough.