# Apollo GraphQL vs Nexus

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Apollo GraphQL

| Attribute | Apollo GraphQL | Nexus |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 64.3 (59% (medium)) | 46.5 (65% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 1 | 0 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 76,434 | 2,363 |
| adoption.github_stars | 13,947 | 3,430 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | 2,958,758 | 224,130 |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true,"self_hosted":true}` | - |
| description.long | A complete API orchestration and governance platform that enables teams to build, deploy, and scale GraphQL APIs with support for federation, real-time subscriptions, schema management, and compliance across cloud and self-hosted environments. | An open-source GraphQL schema library that enables developers to define GraphQL types programmatically in TypeScript/JavaScript with full type safety and IDE intellisense. It bridges the simplicity of schema-definition-language approaches with the flexibility and long-term maintainability of code-based construction. |
| features.capabilities | `{"role":"gateway","caching":true,"language":"API-agnostic (supports any GraphQL API regardless of implementation language)","federation":true,"managed_cloud":true,"self_hostable":true,"subscriptions":true,"auth_directives":true,"schema_approach":"introspection","type_generation":true,"db_introspection":false}` | `{"role":"schema_builder","language":"TypeScript/JavaScript","managed_cloud":false,"self_hostable":true,"schema_approach":"code_first","type_generation":true}` |
| integrations.count | 4 | 2 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Apollo Connectors"},{"name":"Apollo MCP Server"},{"name":"GraphQL APIs"},{"name":"REST APIs"}]` | `[{"name":"Prisma"},{"name":"Next.js"}]` |
| language.primary | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | MIT | MIT |
| market.availability | `{"hqCountry":"US","primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | - |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` | - |
| pricing | `{"type":"hybrid","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","summary":"Forever free, no credit card required","features":["GraphOS platform","Any GraphQL API support","Self-hosted Router","GraphQL Federation","Response Caching","Schema Proposals","SSO","Audit logging"],"minSeats":3,"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For students or hobbyists learning GraphQL","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"developers":"Up to 3","data_retention":"1 day","router_rate_limit":"60 requests per minute"}},{"free":false,"name":"Developer","summary":"$5 per million requests, billed monthly with volume discounts. $50 credit on signup.","features":["GraphOS platform","Any GraphQL API support","Self-hosted Router","GraphQL Federation","Response Caching","Schema Proposals","SSO","Audit logging"],"minSeats":10,"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"per":{"qty":1,"unit":"million_requests"},"kind":"metered","amount":5,"currency":"USD"}],"description":"For small teams operating production GraphQL APIs","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"developers":"Up to 10","data_retention":"7 days"}},{"free":false,"name":"Standard","summary":"Custom pricing","features":["GraphOS platform","Any GraphQL API support","Self-hosted Router","GraphQL Federation","Response Caching","Schema Proposals","SSO","Audit logging"],"minSeats":30,"description":"For scaling a GraphQL platform across multiple teams","contactSales":true,"includedLimits":{"developers":"Up to 30","data_retention":"90 days"}},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"Custom pricing","features":["GraphOS platform","Any GraphQL API support","Self-hosted Router","GraphQL Federation","Response Caching","Schema Proposals","SSO","Audit logging"],"description":"For large-scale GraphQL initiatives","contactSales":true,"includedLimits":{"developers":"Unlimited","data_retention":"18 months"}}],"addOns":[{"name":"Premium Support Packages"},{"name":"Professional Services Packages"}],"summary":"From $5 per million requests. Free tier with no credit card required.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.apollographql.com/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T21:31:14.928Z","startingPrice":{"amount":5,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month"]}` | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://nexusjs.org/docs/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T08:30:53.802Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | freemium | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | low | free |
| pricing.transparent | yes | - |
| release.cadence_days | - | 27 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server%405.5.1","date":"2026-05-05T16:06:05Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server@5.5.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-integration-testsuite%405.5.1","date":"2026-05-05T16:06:02Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server-integration-testsuite@5.5.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/usage-reporting-protobuf%404.1.2","date":"2026-05-04T16:35:44Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/usage-reporting-protobuf@4.1.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server%405.5.0","date":"2026-03-24T19:49:16Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server@5.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-integration-testsuite%405.5.0","date":"2026-03-24T19:49:19Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server-integration-testsuite@5.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server%405.4.0","date":"2026-02-04T10:58:26Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server@5.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server%404.13.0","date":"2026-02-04T10:56:52Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server@4.13.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-integration-testsuite%405.4.0","date":"2026-02-04T10:58:23Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server-integration-testsuite@5.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-integration-testsuite%404.13.0","date":"2026-02-04T10:56:49Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server-integration-testsuite@4.13.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server%405.3.0","date":"2026-01-21T11:46:10Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server@5.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-integration-testsuite%405.3.0","date":"2026-01-21T11:46:07Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server-integration-testsuite@5.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server%405.2.0","date":"2025-11-21T23:19:03Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server@5.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-integration-testsuite%405.2.0","date":"2025-11-21T23:19:00Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server-integration-testsuite@5.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server%405.1.0","date":"2025-10-28T15:47:16Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server@5.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-integration-testsuite%405.1.0","date":"2025-10-28T15:47:13Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server-integration-testsuite@5.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server%405.1.0-rc.0","date":"2025-10-21T17:16:53Z","type":"prerelease","version":"@apollo/server@5.1.0-rc.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-plugin-response-cache%405.0.1-rc.0","date":"2025-10-21T17:16:50Z","type":"prerelease","version":"@apollo/server-plugin-response-cache@5.0.1-rc.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-integration-testsuite%405.1.0-rc.0","date":"2025-10-21T17:16:47Z","type":"prerelease","version":"@apollo/server-integration-testsuite@5.1.0-rc.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server%405.0.0","date":"2025-07-17T16:58:26Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server@5.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/apollographql/apollo-server/releases/tag/%40apollo/server-plugin-response-cache%405.0.0","date":"2025-07-17T16:58:23Z","type":"stable","version":"@apollo/server-plugin-response-cache@5.0.0"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/next","date":"2020-07-07T22:25:09Z","type":"prerelease","version":"next"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v1.3.0","date":"2022-03-07T13:45:55Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/1.1.0","date":"2021-06-23T20:39:56Z","type":"stable","version":"1.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/1.0.0","date":"2020-12-14T18:10:17Z","type":"stable","version":"1.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.19.2","date":"2020-11-27T17:29:38Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.19.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.19.1","date":"2020-11-25T14:51:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.19.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.19.0","date":"2020-11-25T13:56:07Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.19.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.18.0","date":"2020-11-12T14:14:19Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.18.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.17.0","date":"2020-10-28T13:27:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.17.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.16.0","date":"2020-09-30T14:47:43Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.16.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.15.0","date":"2020-08-04T13:56:05Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.15.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.14.0","date":"2020-06-03T20:11:02Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.14.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.13.1","date":"2020-03-30T20:40:21Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.13.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.12.0-rc.7","date":"2020-01-23T01:22:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.0-rc.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.12.0-rc.5","date":"2019-11-20T13:21:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.0-rc.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.12.0-rc.4","date":"2019-11-07T22:38:39Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.0-rc.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.12.0-rc.3","date":"2019-11-07T22:39:49Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.0-rc.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/graphql-nexus/nexus/releases/tag/v0.12.0-rc.2","date":"2019-11-07T22:39:30Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.0-rc.2"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | yes | - |
| security.gdpr | yes | - |
| security.scorecard | 5.8 | 3.5 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":5,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=apollo-server-core&per_page=100","last_12m":1,"max_severity":"MODERATE"}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=nexus&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (GraphQL Tools)

| Capability | Apollo GraphQL | Nexus |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Role | Gateway / federation | Schema builder |
| Primary language | API-agnostic (supports any GraphQL API regardless of implementation language) | TypeScript/JavaScript |
| **Modelling** |  |  |
| Schema approach | DB introspection | Code-first |
| **Scale** |  |  |
| Federation / subgraph composition | ✓ | - |
| **Realtime** |  |  |
| Real-time subscriptions | ✓ | - |
| **Performance** |  |  |
| Response / edge caching | ✓ | - |
| **DX** |  |  |
| Typed code generation | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Automation** |  |  |
| Generates API from a database | ✗ | - |
| **Security** |  |  |
| Built-in authz / permissions | ✓ | - |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Official hosted offering | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self-hostable | ✓ | ✓ |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T16:32:56.446Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*