# Pothos vs urql

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Pothos

| Attribute | Pothos | urql |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 60.8 (46% (low)) | 55.4 (48% (low)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 26 | 3 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 316 | 57,619 |
| adoption.github_stars | 2,611 | 8,967 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | 487,927 | 1,132,793 |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | - |
| description.long | Pothos is a GraphQL schema builder for TypeScript that emphasizes type-safety and ease of use. It features a plugin ecosystem for extending functionality while maintaining zero-overhead at runtime. | A JavaScript GraphQL client that integrates with popular frameworks like React and Vue. The library is designed to be lightweight with optional features for caching and optimization. |
| features.capabilities | `{"role":"schema_builder","federation":true,"self_hostable":true,"subscriptions":true,"schema_approach":"code_first","type_generation":true,"db_introspection":true}` | `{"role":"client","caching":true,"language":"TypeScript"}` |
| integrations.count | 6 | - |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Prisma"},{"name":"NestJS"},{"name":"Next.js"},{"name":"Apollo"},{"name":"Mercurius"},{"name":"OpenTelemetry"}]` | - |
| language.primary | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | ISC | MIT |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` | `{"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://pothos-graphql.dev/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T09:17:12.302Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free and open source (MIT license)","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://urql.dev","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T21:40:56.515Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | - | yes |
| pricing.model | commercial | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-validation%404.3.2","date":"2026-08-25T22:31:21Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-validation@4.3.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-drizzle%400.18.0","date":"2026-08-21T02:07:00Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-drizzle@0.18.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-drizzle%400.17.6","date":"2026-08-18T20:51:35Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-drizzle@0.17.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-federation%404.5.0","date":"2026-07-23T19:25:33Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-federation@4.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/tracing-xray%401.1.4","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:11Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/tracing-xray@1.1.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/tracing-sentry%401.1.5","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:32Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/tracing-sentry@1.1.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/tracing-opentelemetry%401.2.1","date":"2026-07-08T23:27:47Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/tracing-opentelemetry@1.2.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/tracing-newrelic%401.1.4","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:29Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/tracing-newrelic@1.1.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/test-utils%402.2.1","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:17Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/test-utils@2.2.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-zod%404.3.1","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:35Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-zod@4.3.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-with-input%404.1.5","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:26Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-with-input@4.1.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-validation%404.3.1","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:47Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-validation@4.3.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-tracing%401.1.3","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:14Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-tracing@1.1.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-sub-graph%404.5.1","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:44Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-sub-graph@4.5.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-smart-subscriptions%404.1.5","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:38Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-smart-subscriptions@4.1.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-simple-objects%404.1.4","date":"2026-07-08T23:27:53Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-simple-objects@4.1.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-scope-auth%404.1.7","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:20Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-scope-auth@4.1.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-relay%404.7.1","date":"2026-07-08T23:28:02Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-relay@4.7.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-prisma%404.15.0","date":"2026-07-08T23:27:32Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-prisma@4.15.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/hayes/pothos/releases/tag/%40pothos/plugin-prisma-utils%401.3.4","date":"2026-07-08T23:27:41Z","type":"stable","version":"@pothos/plugin-prisma-utils@1.3.4"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/urql%405.0.4","date":"2026-08-21T17:08:08Z","type":"stable","version":"urql@5.0.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/core%406.0.3","date":"2026-06-22T10:46:51Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/core@6.0.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/urql%405.0.3","date":"2026-06-15T17:41:31Z","type":"stable","version":"urql@5.0.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/vue%402.1.1","date":"2026-06-15T17:41:19Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/vue@2.1.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/next%402.0.1","date":"2026-06-15T17:41:22Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/next@2.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/exchange-graphcache%409.0.1","date":"2026-06-15T17:41:25Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/exchange-graphcache@9.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/core%406.0.2","date":"2026-06-15T17:41:28Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/core@6.0.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/urql%405.0.2","date":"2026-04-15T03:03:48Z","type":"stable","version":"urql@5.0.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/vue%402.1.0","date":"2026-04-01T18:38:53Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/vue@2.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/solid-start%400.2.0","date":"2026-04-01T18:38:56Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/solid-start@0.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/solid%401.0.1","date":"2026-01-25T10:17:50Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/solid@1.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/solid-start%400.1.0","date":"2026-01-25T10:17:47Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/solid-start@0.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/storage-rn%401.1.2","date":"2026-01-23T06:42:22Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/storage-rn@1.1.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/exchange-refocus%402.1.0","date":"2026-01-23T06:42:16Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/exchange-refocus@2.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/exchange-graphcache%409.0.0","date":"2026-01-23T06:42:19Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/exchange-graphcache@9.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/urql%405.0.1","date":"2025-08-29T08:06:41Z","type":"stable","version":"urql@5.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/exchange-persisted%405.0.1","date":"2025-08-11T05:29:00Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/exchange-persisted@5.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/core%406.0.1","date":"2025-08-11T05:29:03Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/core@6.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/urql%405.0.0","date":"2025-08-09T13:26:59Z","type":"stable","version":"urql@5.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/urql-graphql/urql/releases/tag/%40urql/exchange-graphcache%408.1.0","date":"2025-08-09T13:31:05Z","type":"stable","version":"@urql/exchange-graphcache@8.1.0"}]` |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40pothos%2Fcore&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40urql%2Fcore&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (GraphQL Tools)

| Capability | Pothos | urql |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Role | Schema builder | Client |
| Primary language | - | TypeScript |
| **Modelling** |  |  |
| Schema approach | 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 2026-09-01T15:12:50.383Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*