Relay
A GraphQL client library that automatically manages data fetching, mutations, and real-time updates for client-side applications.
- Also known as
- relay
Available worldwide
What is Relay?
Relay is a GraphQL client that eliminates imperative data-fetching code. It allows developers to declare data requirements declaratively through GraphQL and handles automatic data consistency, optimistic updates, and error handling.
Relay pricing
We don't have Relay's full plan breakdown yet (its pricing page resisted automated reading). Here's what we could confirm. Always check live pricing for exact numbers.
Free and open-source
What Relay does
The capabilities that matter for graphql tools, normalised so it lines up with every alternative. “-” means we haven't confirmed it, not that it's missing.
- Role
- Client
- Primary language
- JavaScript / TypeScript
- Schema approach
- Code-first
- Federation / subgraph composition
- ✗
- Real-time subscriptions
- ✓
- Response / edge caching
- ✓
- Typed code generation
- ✓
- Generates API from a database
- ✗
- Built-in authz / permissions
- ✗
- Official hosted offering
- ✗
- Self-hostable
- ✓
Platform & deployment
Independently observed- CLI
- Web
- Self-hosted
Security & compliance
Known vulnerabilities: 0 (0 in the last 12 months) sourcea count reflects scale & disclosure, not quality
Relay FAQ
Common questions about Relay, answered from independent, dated evidence.
What is Relay?
An open-source framework that enables type-safe GraphQL queries in JavaScript applications, with built-in support for caching, error handling, and server-side rendering via React Server Components. It is indexed under GraphQL Tools.
Source: https://relay.dev
Is Relay free to use?
Relay is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the MIT licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.
Source: https://relay.dev
What platforms does Relay support?
Relay supports the web and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.
Source: https://relay.dev
Can Relay be self-hosted?
Yes. Relay can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.
Source: https://relay.dev
Is Relay open source?
Yes. Relay is published under the MIT licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.
Relay alternatives
Other graphql tools we track, ranked by the same independent score.
- WunderGraphAn open-source federation platform for building and managing GraphQL APIs at scalemedium · 69%
- Strawberry GraphQLA Python framework for building GraphQL server applicationsmedium · 65%
- Apollo GraphQLJavaScript server for building GraphQL APIsmedium · 59%
- StellateEdge-based GraphQL API platform with caching, rate limiting, and real-time analyticsmedium · 73%
- GraphQL MeshA GraphQL gateway framework that unifies multiple data sources and APIs into a single queryable GraphQL interface.medium · 57%
- GraphQL YogaA high-performance GraphQL server built for quick deployment with minimal configurationmedium · 67%
Compare Relay
Side by side against other graphql tools, attribute by attribute, with a source on every value.
The vioscaleAI score: one lens on the evidence
Not user reviews and not a paid placement: a confidence-weighted blend of the independent signals below (adoption, activity, security posture, and more), which you can sort and re-weight yourself. Vendors can correct their listing but can never move their rank, and stars are weighted low as a vanity metric. It is one way to read the evidence for Relay, not the verdict.
| Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package downloads | 85 | 0.17 | 14.6 | ✓ |
| Development activity | 62 | 0.12 | 7.4 | ✓ |
| Dependent projects | 81 | 0.08 | 6.5 | ✓ |
| Capabilities | 67 | 0.08 | 5.6 | ✓ |
| Release cadence | 74 | 0.07 | 5.0 | ✓ |
| Security score | 58 | 0.05 | 3.1 | ✓ |
| Stars | 81 | 0.03 | 2.7 | ✓ |
| Integrations | 0 | 0.05 | 0.0 | - |
| Security posture | 0 | 0.09 | 0.0 | - |
| Developer Q&A activity | 0 | 0.08 | 0.0 | - |
Computed . Re-weight it by intent, or see the full method.
All data & sourcesshow ↓
Every value we hold, with its source, retrieval date, and confidence. This is the evidence behind the score: don't trust it, verify it.
Activity
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Commits last 30d | 92 | mediumsource · 2026-09-11 · 65% |
Adoption
Content
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Faq | 5 items | mediumsource · 2026-09-10 · 68% |
Features
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Capabilities | Role: client · Caching: Yes · Language: JavaScript / TypeScript · Federation: No · Managed cloud: No · Self hostable: Yes | mediumsource · 2026-09-14 · 60% |
Language
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Rust | highsource · 2026-09-11 · 90% |
License
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Spdx | MIT | highsource · 2026-09-11 · 99% |
Market
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | PrimaryMarkets: … · AvailabilityScope: global · AvailableCountries: … · NotAvailableCountries: … | highsource · 2026-08-13 · 75% |
Pricing
Release
Security
Is Relay the right choice for you?
Tell us the job, the constraints and what you weigh most, and we will rank Relay against the rest of the graphql tools we index, using the same dated evidence weighted your way.
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