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Software · head to head

GraphQL Apollo vs AWS API Gateway

GraphQL Apollo logo

GraphQL Apollo

Software

Complete platform for building GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

Software

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GraphQL Apollo standard and Enterprise tiers publish no figures and require contacting sales through a Talk to Sales link, while paid usage is metered at $5 per million requests rather than by seat; AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • They diverge on capability: GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, AWS API Gateway covers WebSocket APIs.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GraphQL Apollo and AWS API Gateway actually diverge.

Attributes where GraphQL Apollo and AWS API Gateway differ
AttributeGraphQL ApolloAWS API Gateway
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
PlatformsJavaScript, Node.js, Web, MobileAWS Cloud
Founded20162006

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

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 GraphQL Apollo

  • Apollo Server
  • Apollo Client
  • GraphQL Federation
  • Microservices
  • Databases
  • JavaScript support
  • Node.js support
  • Web support

Only in AWS API Gateway

  • WebSocket APIs
  • HTTP APIs
  • Lambda
  • EC2
  • DynamoDB
  • CloudWatch
  • IAM
  • AWS Cloud support

Both cover

  • REST APIs

What people use each for

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

GraphQL Apollo

  • API Developmentnot AWS API Gateway
  • API Gatewaynot AWS API Gateway
  • API Testingnot AWS API Gateway
  • API Documentationnot AWS API Gateway
  • Microservicesnot AWS API Gateway

AWS API Gateway

  • Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot GraphQL Apollo
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot GraphQL Apollo
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot GraphQL Apollo
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot GraphQL Apollo
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot GraphQL Apollo

Where each one falls short

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

GraphQL Apollo

  • Standard and Enterprise tiers publish no figures and require contacting sales through a Talk to Sales link, while paid usage is metered at $5 per million requests rather than by seat
  • Developer plan caps at 10 users and Standard caps at 30 users before requiring the sales-gated Enterprise tier

AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
  • WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
  • Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
  • The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
  • The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing

Pricing, plan by plan

GraphQL Apollo

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Apollo Server
    • Apollo Client
    • Community support
  • Studio Starter$49/monthly
    • Apollo Studio
    • GraphQL monitoring
    • Collaboration
  • Studio Professional$399/monthly
    • Advanced analytics
    • Priority support
    • SLA

AWS API Gateway

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M requests per month
    • Basic API management
  • Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
    • Unlimited requests
    • HTTP APIs
    • REST APIs

Which should you pick?

Choose GraphQL Apollo if

  • You need apollo server.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want apollo client.
GraphQL Apollo review

Choose AWS API Gateway if

  • You need websocket apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS Cloud.
  • You also want http apis.
AWS API Gateway review

Questions people ask

Is GraphQL Apollo or AWS API Gateway better?
Neither clearly leads. GraphQL Apollo starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GraphQL Apollo or AWS API Gateway?
GraphQL Apollo starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free.
Does GraphQL Apollo or AWS API Gateway run on more platforms?
GraphQL Apollo runs on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile. AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud.
Can I use GraphQL Apollo for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is GraphQL Apollo best used for?
GraphQL Apollo is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what AWS API Gateway is typically brought in for.
What can GraphQL Apollo do that AWS API Gateway cannot?
GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, Apollo Client, GraphQL Federation, Microservices. AWS API Gateway covers WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda, EC2. Both handle REST APIs.
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