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Is cross-fetch ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Universal WHATWG Fetch API for Node, Browsers and React Native

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against cross-fetch@4.1.0. Markdown · JSON

CommonJS CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test

cross-fetch ships CommonJS only. require("cross-fetch") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "cross-fetch" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

What to do

  1. require("cross-fetch") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun.
  2. From ES modules use the default import: import crossFetch from "cross-fetch"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
4.1.0 (Dec 21, 2024)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
4.1.0
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
32.9M
License
MIT

Does cross-fetch@4.1.0 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("cross-fetch") from a CommonJS file and import "cross-fetch" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("cross-fetch")import "cross-fetch"
Node.js 18✓ works✓ works
Node.js 20✓ works✓ works
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import cross-fetch

ES modules (import)

import crossFetch from "cross-fetch";

Named imports from a CommonJS package only work when Node.js can statically detect them. If a named import fails, use the default import and destructure.

CommonJS (require)

const crossFetch = require("cross-fetch");

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (39 versions; the newest 39 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
0.0.2 – 4.1.0CommonJSSep 23, 2017

Frequently asked

Is cross-fetch ESM-only?

cross-fetch@4.1.0 is a CommonJS package. cross-fetch ships CommonJS only. require("cross-fetch") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "cross-fetch" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

Can I import cross-fetch with ES module syntax?

Yes. import crossFetch from "cross-fetch" works in Node.js and Bun because they support importing CommonJS modules. Named imports work only when Node.js can statically detect the exports.

Does cross-fetch work in Bun?

Yes. import "cross-fetch" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does cross-fetch ship TypeScript types?

Yes. cross-fetch bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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