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Apollo Server vs GraphQL.js

Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.

Apollo Server

Open source · MIT

A JavaScript GraphQL server that works with Express, Koa, Hapi and similar Node frameworks.

Full review Website
GraphQL.js

Open source · MIT

JavaScript reference implementation of GraphQL, a query language for APIs.

Full review Website

The short answer

Choose Apollo Server if you need…

  • Node.js developers who want to add a GraphQL API to an existing Express, Koa or Hapi app
  • Teams that prefer defining a schema first and then implementing resolvers
  • Developers who want a widely used, MIT-licensed GraphQL server in TypeScript

Choose GraphQL.js if you need…

  • JavaScript or TypeScript developers building a GraphQL API on Node.js
  • Developers who want the reference implementation that other GraphQL tools are built on
  • Teams building browser-side tools that work with GraphQL schemas

Side-by-side

Apollo ServerGraphQL.js
TypeLibraryLibrary
PriceFree and open sourceFree and open source
LicenceMITMIT
GitHub stars14k20.3k
Setup difficultyIntermediateIntermediate
How you get itInstall with a package managerInstall with a package manager
Main languageTypeScriptTypeScript
Last code update5 days ago4 days ago

What each one is

Apollo Server

Apollo Server is a JavaScript library for running a GraphQL API on Node.js. You describe your data with a GraphQL schema and write resolver functions that fetch the data for each field. It plugs into common Node web frameworks so clients can send GraphQL queries over HTTP. The description says it is spec-compliant and built for a schema-first way of working.

GraphQL.js

GraphQL.js is the official JavaScript implementation of GraphQL, a query language for APIs originally created by Facebook. It lets developers define a typed schema that maps to their code, then run queries against that schema, with validation of queries before they execute. It works in both Node.js servers and browsers.

Best for

Apollo Server

  • Node.js developers who want to add a GraphQL API to an existing Express, Koa or Hapi app
  • Teams that prefer defining a schema first and then implementing resolvers
  • Developers who want a widely used, MIT-licensed GraphQL server in TypeScript

GraphQL.js

  • JavaScript or TypeScript developers building a GraphQL API on Node.js
  • Developers who want the reference implementation that other GraphQL tools are built on
  • Teams building browser-side tools that work with GraphQL schemas

Strengths

Apollo Server

  • Built to follow the GraphQL spec and designed for production use, per its description
  • Works with several popular Node.js web frameworks
  • Open source under the MIT license with a large community (about 14,000 stars)

GraphQL.js

  • Maintained as the reference implementation of the GraphQL specification for JavaScript
  • Ships both CommonJS and ES module builds, so it works with most bundlers
  • Released under the permissive MIT license

Not ideal for

Apollo Server

  • People who only need a REST API or static site, since GraphQL adds a layer they would not use
  • Non-programmers, because it requires writing server code in JavaScript or TypeScript
  • Projects that need a non-Node.js server language, since this library runs only on Node.js

GraphQL.js

  • People who only want to call an existing GraphQL API and do not write server code; a client library would fit better
  • Non-developers, since the README assumes familiarity with JavaScript and schemas

Trade-offs

Apollo Server

  • Requires working knowledge of GraphQL concepts such as schemas and resolvers
  • The README excerpt provided is truncated, so details on configuration and advanced features could not be verified here
  • Being a JavaScript/TypeScript library, it is only useful within the Node.js ecosystem

GraphQL.js

  • The README's getting-started material is brief; fuller documentation is on external sites
  • Building a full API typically needs additional libraries not covered in this README
  • Contributions require signing a GraphQL Specification Membership agreement

Getting started

Apollo Server

Install the server package

npm install @apollo/server graphql
Step-by-step guide: how to use Apollo Server

GraphQL.js

Install with npm

npm install --save graphql

Install with yarn

yarn add graphql
Step-by-step guide: how to use GraphQL.js

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Apollo Server and GraphQL.js?

Apollo Server: A JavaScript GraphQL server that works with Express, Koa, Hapi and similar Node frameworks. GraphQL.js: JavaScript reference implementation of GraphQL, a query language for APIs. Apollo Server suits node.js developers who want to add a graphql api to an existing express, koa or hapi app, while GraphQL.js suits javascript or typescript developers building a graphql api on node.js.

Are Apollo Server and GraphQL.js free?

Apollo Server: Free and open source. GraphQL.js: Free and open source.

Is Apollo Server or GraphQL.js more popular?

GraphQL.js has more GitHub stars (20.3k) than Apollo Server (14k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.

What are other alternatives to Apollo Server and GraphQL.js?

Other options people compare them with include Apollo Client, Koa, Yoga.

Keep comparing

Apollo Client vs Apollo ServerApollo Server vs GraphileGraphQL.js vs YogaGraphile vs GraphQL.js

Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.