Data & backend in Flutter using dio

A powerful HTTP client for Dart and Flutter, which supports global settings, Interceptors, FormData, aborting and canceling a request, files uploading and downl.

CategoryBackend/Data
Stars★ 12,830
Last update2026-07-14
PriorityHigh

dio is an open-source backend & data library for Flutter mobile app development, with 12,830★ on GitHub and last updated on 2026-07-14. This guide covers what dio does, why it matters in 2026, how to add it to your project, when to reach for it, and how it compares to the alternatives — plus a quick FAQ.

What is dio?

A powerful HTTP client for Dart and Flutter, which supports global settings, Interceptors, FormData, aborting and canceling a request, files uploading and downl. It focuses on talking to APIs, databases, and persistence layers. The project lives at cfug/dio and is maintained by cfug.

Why dio is worth knowing in 2026

dio carries 12,830 GitHub stars, 1,560 forks, 34 open issues. It has been around since 2018, and is actively maintained (updated within the last month). For a Backend/Data option, that combination of adoption and upkeep usually means a healthy community, production usage, and plenty of examples to learn from — the things that make a dependency safe to build on.

Installing dio

Add the package to your pubspec.yaml:

dependencies:
  dio: ^latest

Then fetch it and import it in your Dart code:

flutter pub get
import 'package:dio/dio.dart';

Check the package’s example/ directory and its pub.dev page for the exact API — dio is versioned there with full docs so you always integrate against the current release.

When should you use dio?

Reach for dio when:

  • you’re calling REST/GraphQL APIs from a Flutter app
  • you need local storage, caching, or offline sync
  • you want typed, testable data access

It’s especially relevant if your project touches adapter, cancellable, dart, dio, flutter, http.

dio vs. the alternatives

If you’re weighing options in the Backend/Data space, these are the other projects developers most often compare dio against:

There’s no single winner — the right pick depends on your app’s size, your team’s familiarity, and your performance budget. Browse the full Backend/Data collection to compare them side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Is dio free to use?

Yes. dio is open source and free to use in your Flutter projects. You can view the source, report issues, and contribute on GitHub.

Does dio work on both iOS and Android?

dio is built for Flutter, so it targets iOS and Android from a single codebase, and typically web and desktop too depending on the project’s platform support.

As of 2026, dio has around 12,830 stars and 1,560 forks on GitHub, which puts it among the more widely used options in the Backend/Data space.

What are good alternatives to dio?

Popular alternatives in the Backend/Data category include gopeed, mmkv, proxypin. The best choice depends on your app’s size, team, and performance needs.

How do I install dio?

Add dio to the dependencies section of your pubspec.yaml and run flutter pub get. Full versions and API docs are on pub.dev.

Resources & links

Part of FlutterCook — 500 hands-on guides to the best open-source Flutter libraries, UI kits, and apps. Explore the live GitHub trends or browse YouTube guides.

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