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Software · head to head

GraphQL Apollo vs Microsoft Azure API Management

GraphQL Apollo logo

GraphQL Apollo

Software

Complete platform for building GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Azure API Management logo

Microsoft Azure API Management

Software

Hybrid, multi-cloud API management service on Azure

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; Microsoft Azure API Management prices are not shown on the pricing page itself; every tier renders as a placeholder and routes to the calculator or sales
  • They diverge on capability: GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Gateway.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GraphQL Apollo and Microsoft Azure API Management actually diverge.

Attributes where GraphQL Apollo and Microsoft Azure API Management differ
AttributeGraphQL ApolloMicrosoft Azure API Management
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsJavaScript, Node.js, Web, MobileCloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud
Founded20161975

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
  • REST APIs
  • Microservices
  • Databases
  • JavaScript support
  • Node.js support

Only in Microsoft Azure API Management

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • API Policies
  • Azure services
  • AWS
  • Google Cloud
  • On-premises
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

GraphQL Apollo

  • API Developmentnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • API Gatewaynot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • API Testingnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • API Documentationnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Microservicesnot Microsoft Azure API Management

Microsoft Azure API Management

  • API gateway and lifecycle management on Azurenot GraphQL Apollo
  • Throttling, keys and policies in front of backend servicesnot GraphQL Apollo
  • Developer portal for internal and partner APIsnot GraphQL Apollo
  • Hybrid deployments using self-hosted gatewaysnot 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

Microsoft Azure API Management

  • Prices are not shown on the pricing page itself; every tier renders as a placeholder and routes to the calculator or sales
  • Two parallel generations of tiers, classic and v2, so the choice is which lineage before which size
  • The Developer tier is explicitly not for production
  • Self-hosted gateways and workspace gateways are charged separately from the service

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

Microsoft Azure API Management

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1M calls/month
    • Community support
  • Developer$50/monthly
    • 10M calls/month
    • Email support
  • Premium$500/monthly
    • Unlimited calls
    • Priority support
    • SLA

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 Microsoft Azure API Management if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud.
  • You also want developer portal.
Microsoft Azure API Management review

Questions people ask

Is GraphQL Apollo or Microsoft Azure API Management better?
Neither clearly leads. GraphQL Apollo starts at Free and Microsoft Azure API Management at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GraphQL Apollo or Microsoft Azure API Management?
GraphQL Apollo starts at Free and Microsoft Azure API Management at Free.
Does GraphQL Apollo or Microsoft Azure API Management run on more platforms?
GraphQL Apollo runs on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile. Microsoft Azure API Management runs on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-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 Microsoft Azure API Management is typically brought in for.
What can GraphQL Apollo do that Microsoft Azure API Management cannot?
GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, Apollo Client, GraphQL Federation, REST APIs. Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Policies, Azure services.
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