Comparison

Apollo GraphQL vs PostGraphile

On the evidence we track, Apollo GraphQL leads this comparison with a composite score of 63/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

Machine formatsMarkdownJSONGraphQLMarkdown is open. JSON and GraphQL need a free key.
★Apollo GraphQL63
PostGraphile52
Score
vioscaleAI score
Apollo GraphQL63 / 100medium · 57%
PostGraphile52 / 100low · 47%
Pricing
Free tier
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✓
Model
Apollo GraphQLfreemium
PostGraphileopen_source
Price level
Apollo GraphQLfree
PostGraphilefree
Transparent
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✓
Integrations
Count
Apollo GraphQL4
PostGraphile1
Reliability
Status page
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✓
Adoption
Dependent repos
Apollo GraphQL76,434
PostGraphile501
Github stars
Apollo GraphQL13,949
PostGraphile12,935
Package downloads weekly
Apollo GraphQL2,385,461
PostGraphile101,072
Activity
Commits last 30d
Apollo GraphQL1
PostGraphile16
Release
History
Apollo GraphQL20 items
PostGraphile20 items
License
Spdx
Apollo GraphQLMIT
PostGraphileMIT
Language
Primary
Apollo GraphQLTypeScript
PostGraphileTypeScript
Content
Faq
Apollo GraphQL8 items
PostGraphile6 items

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for graphql tools. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Core
Role
Apollo GraphQLGateway / federation
PostGraphileDB-to-GraphQL
Primary language
Apollo GraphQLAPI-agnostic (supports any GraphQL API regardless of implementation language)
PostGraphileJavaScript/TypeScript
Modelling
Schema approach
Apollo GraphQLDB introspection
PostGraphileDB introspection
Scale
Federation / subgraph composition
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile-
Realtime
Real-time subscriptions
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✓
Performance
Response / edge caching
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile-
DX
Typed code generation
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✓
Automation
Generates API from a database
Apollo GraphQL✗
PostGraphile✓
Security
Built-in authz / permissions
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✓
Deployment
Official hosted offering
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile-
Self-hostable
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✓

What each one is

The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.

Apollo GraphQL

Leader

Apollo helps organizations build a unified GraphQL layer that combines multiple APIs and services, enabling better integration for AI systems and applications.

Independently observed

PostGraphile

PostGraphile is a tool that automatically creates a GraphQL API from a PostgreSQL database, eliminating the need to build custom APIs. It includes built-in security through PostgreSQL's role-based access and row-level security policies, along with performance optimization and extensibility features.

Independently observed

Pricing

List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.

Apollo GraphQL

Leader
from $5/moHybridFree tier

From $5 per million requests. Free tier with no credit card required.

  • FreeFree
    • GraphOS platform
    • Any GraphQL API support
    • Self-hosted Router
    • GraphQL Federation
    • Response Caching
    • +3 more
  • Developer$5 per million requests, billed monthly with volume discounts. $50 credit on signup.
    • GraphOS platform
    • Any GraphQL API support
    • Self-hosted Router
    • GraphQL Federation
    • Response Caching
    • +3 more
  • StandardContact sales
    • GraphOS platform
    • Any GraphQL API support
    • Self-hosted Router
    • GraphQL Federation
    • Response Caching
    • +3 more
  • EnterpriseContact sales
    • GraphOS platform
    • Any GraphQL API support
    • Self-hosted Router
    • GraphQL Federation
    • Response Caching
    • +3 more
as of verify ↗

PostGraphile

from $375/moOpen sourceFree tier

Open source and free. Professional support from $999/month.

  • Core (Open Source)Free
  • On-Demand Consultancy$375 one-time
  • Development SupportContact sales
as of verify ↗

Platform & deployment

Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.

Platforms
Web
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✗
iOS
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✗
CLI
Apollo GraphQL✗
PostGraphile✓
Deployment
Self-hosted
Apollo GraphQL✓
PostGraphile✓

Integrations

What each product connects to. Counts come from the vendor's own integration directory where one exists.

Apollo GraphQL

Leader
4 total
  • Apollo Connectors
  • Apollo MCP Server
  • GraphQL APIs
  • REST APIs
Independently observed

PostGraphile

1 total
  • PostgreSQL
Independently observed
Still deciding?

Apollo GraphQL or PostGraphile: which one depends on you

A composite score cannot know your constraints. Describe them and both get re-weighted against what you actually need, with the evidence behind every position.

Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.