C# HTTP Client Libraries
HTTP client libraries for C# provide deep integration with the .NET ecosystem. HttpClient is the core of standard libraries, RestSharp offers easy-to-use REST APIs, Refit provides interface-based API definitions, and Flurl features fluent URL building. Asynchronous processing with async/await is standard.
GitHub Star Comparison
| No | Name | GitHub Stars | Description | Trend | License | Type | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HttpClient | - | Standard HTTP client built into .NET framework. Supports dependency injection and lifecycle management through HttpClientFactory. Provides async communication, HTTP/2 support, automatic compression, and detailed timeout configuration. Recommended standard implementation for enterprise applications. | Maintains solid position as de facto standard HTTP client in .NET development in 2025. Significantly improved performance and functionality with modern features from .NET 5/6+. Adopted as first choice for microservices, Web API, and cloud application development. | MIT | Standard Library | Official |
| 2 | RestSharp | - | Simple REST and HTTP API client for .NET. Supports rapid development with intuitive API design. Built-in automatic serialization, authentication (OAuth, JWT, Basic), request/response transformation, and error handling. Based on HttpClient from version 107+. | Continues as important choice for .NET REST API development in 2025. Latest version based on HttpClient provides improved performance and compatibility. Particularly supported by development teams seeking REST API consumption and simple HTTP operations, valued for low learning cost. | Apache 2.0 | API-focused | Official |
| 3 | Flurl | - | Fluent and user-friendly URL building and HTTP client library for .NET. Features intuitive API through method chaining, excellent testability, JSON integration, and error handling capabilities. HttpClient-based supporting modern async communication patterns. | Supported by .NET developers for fluent syntax and excellent testing capabilities in 2025. Increasing adoption especially in projects emphasizing API integration and test-driven development. Demonstrates value in quality-focused development environments through intuitive API design and comprehensive testing support. | MIT | Fluent API | Official |
| 4 | Refit | - | Type-safe REST library for .NET. Automatically generates HTTP client implementation from interface definitions. Declarative API design inspired by Retrofit (Java/Android). Provides JSON.NET, System.Text.Json support, authentication, error handling, and reactive stream integration. | Established position as standard choice for type-safe API communication in .NET microservice development in 2025. Particularly valued in projects adopting clean architecture or DDD patterns. Continuously expanding adoption through improved development efficiency and type safety via code generation. | MIT | Code generation | Official |