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

A light-weight module that brings Fetch API to node.js

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against node-fetch@3.3.2. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 3.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 2.7.0

node-fetch dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.7.0, published Aug 23, 2023; it declares support for Node.js 4.x || >=6.0.0.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("node-fetch") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("node-fetch") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("node-fetch") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const nodeFetch = await import("node-fetch"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install node-fetch@2.7.0, the last CommonJS release (published Aug 23, 2023); it declares Node.js 4.x || >=6.0.0.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
3.3.2 (Jul 25, 2023)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
2.7.0
ESM-only since
3.0.0 (Aug 31, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0
Weekly downloads
172.9M
License
MIT

Does node-fetch@3.3.2 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("node-fetch")import "node-fetch"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✓ 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 node-fetch

ES modules (import)

import * as nodeFetch from "node-fetch";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const nodeFetch = require("node-fetch");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const nodeFetch = await import("node-fetch");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js 4.x || >=6.0.0):
// npm install node-fetch@2.7.0

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 (73 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.0.0 – 3.3.2ESM-onlyAug 31, 2021
1.3.0 – 2.7.0CommonJSJun 4, 2015

Frequently asked

Is node-fetch ESM-only?

node-fetch@3.3.2 is ESM-only. node-fetch dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.7.0, published Aug 23, 2023; it declares support for Node.js 4.x || >=6.0.0.

Which version of node-fetch still supports CommonJS / require()?

2.7.0 is the last version of node-fetch with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js 4.x || >=6.0.0. Install it with "npm install node-fetch@2.7.0". Every version from 3.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use node-fetch from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const nodeFetch = await import("node-fetch"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("node-fetch") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin node-fetch@2.7.0 (declares Node.js 4.x || >=6.0.0).

Does node-fetch work in Bun?

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

Does node-fetch ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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