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API Management · head to head

GraphQL Apollo vs WSO2 API Manager

GraphQL Apollo logo

GraphQL Apollo

API Management

Complete platform for building GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WSO2 API Manager logo

WSO2 API Manager

API Management

Complete API management platform for designing and managing APIs

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; WSO2 API Manager the free open source distribution does not include a subscription to the WSO2 Update service, so continuous improvements and security patches require a paid subscription
  • They diverge on capability: GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GraphQL Apollo and WSO2 API Manager actually diverge.

Attributes where GraphQL Apollo and WSO2 API Manager differ
AttributeGraphQL ApolloWSO2 API Manager
PlatformsJavaScript, Node.js, Web, MobileJava, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes
Founded20162005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).

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
  • Databases
  • JavaScript support
  • Node.js support
  • Web support

Only in WSO2 API Manager

  • API Gateway
  • API Designer
  • Developer Portal
  • LDAP
  • Okta
  • Keycloak
  • Java support
  • Linux support

Both cover

  • Microservices

What people use each for

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

GraphQL Apollo

  • API Developmentnot WSO2 API Manager
  • API Gatewaynot WSO2 API Manager
  • API Testingnot WSO2 API Manager
  • API Documentationnot WSO2 API Manager
  • Microservicesnot WSO2 API Manager

WSO2 API Manager

  • Publishing, securing and rate limiting APIs behind a gatewaynot GraphQL Apollo
  • Running an API developer portal with subscription key managementnot GraphQL Apollo
  • Self hosting an open source API management layer on premisesnot 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

WSO2 API Manager

  • The free open source distribution does not include a subscription to the WSO2 Update service, so continuous improvements and security patches require a paid subscription
  • A commercial production licence is not part of the free download and comes only with a subscription
  • No subscription price is published; Basic Support and Enterprise Support both require contacting sales for a quote
  • 24x7x365 coverage requires Enterprise Support; the general query SLA is one business day
  • A Customer Success Manager is a paid optional add on covering business hours only
  • Consulting services and WSO2 Private Cloud hosting are quoted separately

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

WSO2 API Manager

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Core API management
    • Community support
  • Commercial$undefined/monthly
    • Enterprise features
    • Technical 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 WSO2 API Manager if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want api designer.
WSO2 API Manager review

Questions people ask

Is GraphQL Apollo or WSO2 API Manager better?
Neither clearly leads. GraphQL Apollo starts at Free and WSO2 API Manager at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GraphQL Apollo or WSO2 API Manager?
GraphQL Apollo starts at Free and WSO2 API Manager at Free.
Does GraphQL Apollo or WSO2 API Manager run on more platforms?
GraphQL Apollo runs on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile. WSO2 API Manager runs on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
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 WSO2 API Manager is typically brought in for.
What can GraphQL Apollo do that WSO2 API Manager cannot?
GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, Apollo Client, GraphQL Federation, REST APIs. WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway, API Designer, Developer Portal, LDAP. Both handle Microservices.
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