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APIs · head to head

Hasura vs Meilisearch

Hasura logo

Hasura

APIs

GraphQL engine that instantly creates production-ready GraphQL API from databases

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Meilisearch logo

Meilisearch

Databases

Fast open-source search engine built for typo tolerance

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hasura active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly; Meilisearch not built for log analytics or aggregation-heavy workloads, which is where Elasticsearch remains the answer
  • They diverge on capability: Hasura covers GraphQL API, Meilisearch covers Typo tolerance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hasura and Meilisearch actually diverge.

Attributes where Hasura and Meilisearch differ
AttributeHasuraMeilisearch
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separately
PlatformsWebLinux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hosted
CategoryAPIsDatabases
Founded2017Unknown

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

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 Meilisearch

  • Typo tolerance
  • Search as you type
  • Faceted search
  • Simple 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 Meilisearch
  • Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot Meilisearch
  • Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot Meilisearch
  • Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot Meilisearch

Meilisearch

  • Adding product or content search to an application without running Elasticsearchnot Hasura
  • Search-as-you-type interfaces where latency is visible to the usernot Hasura
  • Replacing SQL LIKE queries that cannot handle typos or rankingnot 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

Meilisearch

  • Not built for log analytics or aggregation-heavy workloads, which is where Elasticsearch remains the answer
  • Scaling across many nodes is less mature than the older engines it competes with
  • Memory use grows with index size, and large datasets need real capacity planning

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

Meilisearch

Free
  • MeilisearchFree
    • Full functionality
    • Self-hosted
    • No usage limits

Which should you pick?

Choose Hasura if

  • You need graphql api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
Hasura review

Choose Meilisearch if

  • You need typo tolerance.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hosted.
  • You also want search as you type.
Meilisearch review

Questions people ask

Is Hasura or Meilisearch better?
Neither clearly leads. Hasura starts at Free and Meilisearch at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hasura or Meilisearch?
Hasura starts at Free and Meilisearch at Free.
Does Hasura or Meilisearch run on more platforms?
Hasura runs on Web. Meilisearch runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hosted.
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 Meilisearch is typically brought in for.
What can Hasura do that Meilisearch cannot?
Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL. Meilisearch covers Typo tolerance, Search as you type, Faceted search, Simple API.

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.

Source
Meilisearch: Is Meilisearch free?

The engine is open source and free to self-host. Meilisearch Cloud is a paid managed service.

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.

Source
Meilisearch: Meilisearch or Elasticsearch?

Meilisearch is far simpler for application search and works well by default. Elasticsearch is the choice when you also need log analytics and heavy aggregations.

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.

Source
Meilisearch: Does it handle typos automatically?

Yes. Typo tolerance is on by default rather than something you configure.

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