RedwoodGraphQL vs Wasp
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.
Open source · MIT
A React web framework with an optional GraphQL API, built on Prisma; the README also promotes a newer sibling
Open source · MIT
A framework that builds React, Node.js and Prisma web apps from a short declarative spec.
The short answer
Choose RedwoodGraphQL if you need…
- Developers building data-driven React apps who want a pre-assembled stack
- Prototypes and hackathons that may grow into larger projects
- Teams that want TypeScript end to end, from router to database
- Developers who want an optional GraphQL API alongside React
Choose Wasp if you need…
- Developers who want to build a full-stack React and Node.js app quickly
- Small teams or solo builders who prefer convention over configuration
- Developers who already know React and Prisma and want less wiring code
- Teams experimenting with AI coding agents who want a more structured project layout
Side-by-side
| RedwoodGraphQL | Wasp | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 17.6k | 18.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | See the README | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
RedwoodGraphQL
RedwoodGraphQL is the GraphQL-focused repository of the Redwood web framework, which combines a React frontend, a GraphQL API, and a Prisma-based database layer in one project. The README describes it as opinionated and full-stack, meant to let developers skip picking every tool themselves. The README is mixed: its top section promotes RedwoodSDK, a separate project for Cloudflare, and its later sections describe the Redwood framework and a not-yet-released 'Bighorn' epoch.
Wasp
Wasp is a full-stack framework for building JavaScript and TypeScript web apps with React, Node.js and Prisma. You describe the main parts of your app in a short spec file, such as pages, routes, queries and auth, and Wasp generates the front-end, back-end and deployment code. The README says the goal is less boilerplate, with features like login, background jobs, email sending and end-to-end type safety built in.
Best for
RedwoodGraphQL
- Developers building data-driven React apps who want a pre-assembled stack
- Prototypes and hackathons that may grow into larger projects
- Teams that want TypeScript end to end, from router to database
- Developers who want an optional GraphQL API alongside React
Wasp
- Developers who want to build a full-stack React and Node.js app quickly
- Small teams or solo builders who prefer convention over configuration
- Developers who already know React and Prisma and want less wiring code
- Teams experimenting with AI coding agents who want a more structured project layout
Strengths
RedwoodGraphQL
- Bundles many common pieces (React, Prisma, Jest, Storybook, GraphQL) into one framework
- Supports TypeScript throughout, with JavaScript also allowed
- Documented tutorial, quick start, and docs site
Wasp
- Declarative spec file covers many common full-stack features in very little code
- Generated code is kept in the .wasp/ directory, so you can read what it produces
- MIT licensed and actively maintained, with a large community of stars and a Discord
Not ideal for
RedwoodGraphQL
- Someone who only wants a small static site, since the README frames Redwood around data-driven apps
- Non-developers, because it requires React, a database, and command-line setup
- Teams who need the unreleased Bighorn features now, since the README says it has no production release yet
Wasp
- Projects that need a different stack, since the README says it currently focuses on React with TanStack Query, Node.js with Express.js, and Prisma
- Teams that need a framework marked production-stable, since the README describes the project as in beta
- People who want full manual control over every layer of their app architecture
Trade-offs
RedwoodGraphQL
- The README's top section and the Bighorn section describe unreleased or different products, which can confuse newcomers
- Opinionated design means you adopt its conventions and stack choices
- The README does not state a clear version roadmap for the GraphQL-specific parts
Wasp
- The README says the project is in beta, so breaking changes are expected
- Tied to a specific stack (React, Node.js, Prisma), so other tools are not supported
- Learning the Wasp spec format is an extra layer on top of the libraries it wraps
Getting started
RedwoodGraphQL
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/redwoodjs/graphqlWasp
Install the Wasp CLI globally (OSX/Linux/WSL)
npm i -g @wasp/cli@latestFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between RedwoodGraphQL and Wasp?
RedwoodGraphQL: A React web framework with an optional GraphQL API, built on Prisma; the README also promotes a newer sibling . Wasp: A framework that builds React, Node.js and Prisma web apps from a short declarative spec. RedwoodGraphQL suits developers building data-driven react apps who want a pre-assembled stack, while Wasp suits developers who want to build a full-stack react and node.js app quickly.
Are RedwoodGraphQL and Wasp free?
RedwoodGraphQL: Free and open source. Wasp: Free and open source.
Is RedwoodGraphQL or Wasp more popular?
Wasp has more GitHub stars (18.8k) than RedwoodGraphQL (17.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to RedwoodGraphQL and Wasp?
Other options people compare them with include Next.js, Remix, Blitz.js, Payload, Gatsby.
Keep comparing
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.