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Mobile Development · head to head

Capacitor vs Hasura

Capacitor logo

Capacitor

Mobile Development

MIT-licensed native runtime bridging web apps to iOS, Android and native APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hasura logo

Hasura

APIs

GraphQL engine that instantly creates production-ready GraphQL API from databases

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Capacitor uI still renders in a system WebView, so complex animation and heavy graphics work require more manual tuning than a natively-rendered framework provides by default.; Hasura active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
  • They diverge on capability: Capacitor covers Native project generation, Hasura covers GraphQL API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Capacitor and Hasura actually diverge.

Attributes where Capacitor and Hasura differ
AttributeCapacitorHasura
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
CategoryMobile DevelopmentAPIs
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Capacitor

  • Native project generation
  • Plugin bridge
  • Custom native plugins
  • Live Reload
  • Framework agnostic
  • Capacitor Assets and Configure CLIs

Only in Hasura

  • GraphQL API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Access control
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • Webhooks
  • REST APIs
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Capacitor

  • A team wrapping an existing responsive web app to publish it to the App Store and Play Storenot Hasura
  • A product using React or Vue that wants native device APIs without adopting a full mobile frameworknot Hasura
  • A developer who wants to drop into native Swift or Kotlin code for the parts a plugin does not covernot Hasura
  • A company migrating off Apache Cordova, since Capacitor was designed as a modern, actively maintained successornot Hasura

Hasura

  • Automatic GraphQL API generation from existing databasesnot Capacitor
  • Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot Capacitor
  • Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot Capacitor
  • Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot Capacitor

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Capacitor

  • UI still renders in a system WebView, so complex animation and heavy graphics work require more manual tuning than a natively-rendered framework provides by default.
  • Every native capability not covered by an official or community plugin means writing and maintaining native Swift and Kotlin code, which erodes the single-codebase promise for device-heavy apps.
  • It is maintained by the same team as Ionic, and while it does not require the Ionic UI library, its release cadence and roadmap priorities are set by a company now owned by OutSystems.
  • Cordova plugins are not automatically compatible and often need adaptation, so migrating a legacy Cordova app is a real porting project, not a drop-in swap.
  • App store review teams scrutinise WebView-wrapped apps more closely for "just a website" rejections, so thin wrapper apps carry more approval risk than natively-compiled alternatives.

Hasura

  • Active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
  • Private DDN requires Base or Advanced plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Capacitor

Free
  • CapacitorFree
    • MIT licensed, unlimited apps
    • Core plugin set included
    • Community support via GitHub and Discord

Hasura

Free
  • DDN FreeFree
    • Unlimited models
    • 1 supergraph developer
    • 15-minute observability retention
  • DDN Base$5/month
    • Per active model billing
    • Unlimited developers
    • 30-day observability retention
  • DDN Advanced$30/month
    • Per active model billing
    • Federated collaboration
    • Multi-repo CI/CD

Which should you pick?

Choose Capacitor if

  • You need native project generation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want plugin bridge.
Capacitor review

Choose Hasura if

  • You need graphql api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
Hasura review

Questions people ask

Is Capacitor or Hasura better?
Neither clearly leads. Capacitor starts at Free and Hasura at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Capacitor or Hasura?
Capacitor starts at Free and Hasura at Free.
Does Capacitor or Hasura run on more platforms?
Capacitor runs on Web, iOS, Android. Hasura runs on Web.
Can I use Capacitor for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Capacitor best used for?
Capacitor is most often used for a team wrapping an existing responsive web app to publish it to the app store and play store, a product using react or vue that wants native device apis without adopting a full mobile framework, a developer who wants to drop into native swift or kotlin code for the parts a plugin does not cover, a company migrating off apache cordova, since capacitor was designed as a modern, actively maintained successor. Of those, a team wrapping an existing responsive web app to publish it to the app store and play store and a product using react or vue that wants native device apis without adopting a full mobile framework are not what Hasura is typically brought in for.
What can Capacitor do that Hasura cannot?
Capacitor covers Native project generation, Plugin bridge, Custom native plugins, Live Reload. Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Capacitor: Do I need Ionic components to use Capacitor?

No. Capacitor is the native runtime and plugin bridge; the Ionic UI component library is a separate, optional layer.

Hasura: How much does Hasura cost?

Hasura DDN Free is free. DDN Base starts at $5/active model/month, and DDN Advanced starts at $30/active model/month.

Source
Capacitor: Is Capacitor free for commercial apps?

Yes, it is MIT licensed with no fee for commercial use, and there is no paid tier of Capacitor itself.

Hasura: What is an active model in Hasura pricing?

An active model is defined as any model or command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly.

Source
Capacitor: Is it a replacement for Cordova?

Functionally yes for most teams, though existing Cordova plugins need adaptation rather than working unmodified.

Hasura: Is there a free version of Hasura?

Yes, Hasura DDN Free is always free and includes unlimited models, 1 supergraph developer, and 15-minute observability retention.

Source
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