Software · head to head
Hasura vs Liveblocks

Hasura
Software
GraphQL engine that instantly creates production-ready GraphQL API from databases
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -

Liveblocks
Software
Realtime collaboration infrastructure for building multiplayer features
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Hasura database support limited to PostgreSQL, MongoDB, ClickHouse, and MS SQL Server only; Liveblocks on the Free plan, each metered feature has a hard cap and simply pauses when exceeded rather than allowing overage.
- They diverge on capability: Hasura covers GraphQL API, Liveblocks covers Realtime presence and cursors.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hasura and Liveblocks actually diverge.
| Attribute | Hasura | Liveblocks |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | freemium |
| Platforms | Web | web, api |
| Founded | 2017 | Unknown |
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 Hasura
- GraphQL API
- Real-time subscriptions
- Access control
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- Webhooks
- REST APIs
- Cloud support
Only in Liveblocks
- Realtime presence and cursors
- Comments
- Version history
- Custom notifications
- SSO and SOC 2
- Management API
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hasura
- Automatic GraphQL API generation from existing databasesnot Liveblocks
- Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot Liveblocks
- Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot Liveblocks
- Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot Liveblocks
Liveblocks
- Adding live cursors and presence to a collaborative editornot Hasura
- Building threaded comments on documents or designsnot Hasura
- Sending realtime notifications tied to collaborative actionsnot Hasura
- Restoring previous versions of collaborative contentnot Hasura
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hasura
- Database support limited to PostgreSQL, MongoDB, ClickHouse, and MS SQL Server only
Liveblocks
- On the Free plan, each metered feature has a hard cap and simply pauses when exceeded rather than allowing overage.
- The jump from Pro ($30/month) to Team (starting at $600/month) is steep for teams that outgrow Pro but don't need full Team scale.
- Multi-region hosting and SCIM provisioning are Enterprise-only and require custom pricing.
Pricing, plan by plan
Hasura
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Hasura review.
Liveblocks
Free- FreeFree
- 10 projects
- 3 dashboard seats
- 10 simultaneous connections per room
- Pro$30/month
- $30 monthly credits
- Removes Liveblocks branding
- 3 dashboard seats
- Team$600/month
- SSO and SOC 2
- 10 dashboard seats
- 50 connections/room
Which should you pick?
Choose Hasura if
- You need graphql api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want real-time subscriptions.
Choose Liveblocks if
- You need realtime presence and cursors.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, api.
- You also want comments.
Questions people ask
- Is Hasura or Liveblocks better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hasura starts at Free and Liveblocks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hasura or Liveblocks?
- Hasura starts at Free and Liveblocks at Free.
- Does Hasura or Liveblocks run on more platforms?
- Hasura runs on Web. Liveblocks runs on web, api.
- Can I use Hasura for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Liveblocks is typically brought in for.
- What can Hasura do that Liveblocks cannot?
- Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL. Liveblocks covers Realtime presence and cursors, Comments, Version history, Custom notifications.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Liveblocks: What does Liveblocks cost?
Liveblocks offers a Free plan with hard usage caps, a Pro plan at $30/month ($25/month billed annually) including $30 in monthly credits, a Team plan from $600/month, and custom Enterprise pricing.
SourceLiveblocks: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?
Yes, the Free plan includes 10 projects, 3 dashboard seats, 10 simultaneous connections per room, 3,000 collaboration minutes, 200 comments, and 1GB of realtime data storage, with features pausing once a cap is hit.
SourceLiveblocks: How is usage metered?
Paid plans include monthly credits covering collaboration minutes, comments, and storage; usage beyond the credit is billed at metered rates such as $0.002 per collaboration minute and $0.01 per comment, with credits resetting each billing cycle without rollover.
SourceRelated pages
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Hasura vs Appwrite
- Hasura vs PocketBase
- Hasura vs Sanity
- Hasura vs Apigee
- Hasura vs Ably
- Hasura vs Pusher
- Hasura vs Kong Gateway
- Hasura vs PubNub
- Hasura vs Treblle
- Hasura vs Apollo GraphQL
- Hasura vs Bruno
- Hasura vs KeystoneJS
- Hasura vs Moesif
- Hasura vs Parse Server
- Hasura vs Stainless
- Hasura vs Stoplight
- Hasura vs Strapi
- Hasura vs Swagger/OpenAPI
- Liveblocks vs Appwrite
- Liveblocks vs PocketBase
- Liveblocks vs Sanity
- Liveblocks vs Apigee
- Liveblocks vs Ably
- Liveblocks vs Pusher
- Liveblocks vs Kong Gateway
- Liveblocks vs PubNub
- Liveblocks vs Treblle
- Liveblocks vs Apollo GraphQL
- Liveblocks vs Bruno
- Liveblocks vs KeystoneJS
- Liveblocks vs Moesif
- Liveblocks vs Parse Server
- Liveblocks vs Stainless
- Liveblocks vs Stoplight
- Liveblocks vs Strapi
- Liveblocks vs Swagger/OpenAPI
