APIs · head to head
Hasura vs Lithic
Hasura
APIs
GraphQL engine that instantly creates production-ready GraphQL API from databases
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Lithic
APIs
API-first card issuing platform with direct Visa, Mastercard and Amex network connections
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Hasura has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Hasura active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly; Lithic pricing is entirely undisclosed, so a company cannot compare total cost against Marqeta, Galileo or Highnote without a sales conversation.
- They diverge on capability: Hasura covers GraphQL API, Lithic covers Direct network connections.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hasura and Lithic actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).
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 Hasura
- GraphQL API
- Real-time subscriptions
- Access control
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- Webhooks
- REST APIs
- Cloud support
Only in Lithic
- Direct network connections
- Processor Client mode
- Lithic Program Management
- Card lifecycle APIs
- Sandbox environment
- Real-time authorization controls
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hasura
- Automatic GraphQL API generation from existing databasesnot Lithic
- Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot Lithic
- Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot Lithic
- Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot Lithic
Lithic
- A fintech wanting direct Visa or Mastercard network access rather than routing through a third-party processornot Hasura
- A company that already holds its own issuing licence and wants API access without full programme managementnot Hasura
- A neobank or expense platform wanting Lithic to manage bank and network relationships end to endnot Hasura
- A product team prototyping a card programme in sandbox before committing to a launchnot Hasura
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hasura
- Active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
- Private DDN requires Base or Advanced plan
Lithic
- Pricing is entirely undisclosed, so a company cannot compare total cost against Marqeta, Galileo or Highnote without a sales conversation.
- Choosing Processor Client mode still leaves the company responsible for holding its own issuing licence and managing the regulatory relationship, which is a substantial undertaking many teams underestimate.
- As with any card infrastructure provider, an outage or network issue at Lithic becomes a direct outage for every card programme built on it, and a customer has limited visibility into root cause during an incident.
- Building a card programme on API infrastructure requires real engineering investment; it is not a plug-and-play product for a non-technical team.
- Switching card infrastructure providers after launch is a major undertaking involving card reissuance and programme migration, so the initial choice carries lasting lock-in.
Pricing, plan by plan
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$30/month
- Per active model billing
- Federated collaboration
- Multi-repo CI/CD
Lithic
On request- Lithic$undefined/year
- Volume and interchange-based pricing, not published
- Separate Processor Client and Program Management pricing tracks
- Custom quote required via sales
Which should you pick?
Choose Hasura if
- You need graphql api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want real-time subscriptions.
Choose Lithic if
- You need direct network connections.
- You work on Web, API.
- You also want processor client mode.
Questions people ask
- Is Hasura or Lithic better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hasura starts at Free and Lithic at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hasura or Lithic?
- Hasura has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Hasura and On request for Lithic.
- Does Hasura or Lithic run on more platforms?
- Hasura runs on Web. Lithic runs on Web, API.
- Can I use Hasura for free?
- Yes. Hasura has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Lithic starts at On request.
- What is Hasura best used for?
- Hasura is most often used for automatic graphql api generation from existing databases, real-time data subscriptions for modern applications, backend infrastructure for web and mobile applications, event-triggered webhooks for database changes. Of those, automatic graphql api generation from existing databases and real-time data subscriptions for modern applications are not what Lithic is typically brought in for.
- What can Hasura do that Lithic cannot?
- Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL. Lithic covers Direct network connections, Processor Client mode, Lithic Program Management, Card lifecycle APIs.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceLithic: Does Lithic publish pricing?
No, pricing is volume-based and requires a sales conversation.
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.
SourceLithic: What is the difference between Processor Client and Program Management?
Processor Client suits companies with their own issuing licence and bank relationships; Program Management is for companies wanting Lithic to coordinate those relationships on their behalf.
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.
SourceLithic: Which networks does it connect to?
Visa, Mastercard and American Express directly.
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