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API Management · head to head

Hasura vs Prisma

Hasura logo

Hasura

API Management

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Prisma logo

Prisma

API Management

Modern ORM and API client for Node.js and TypeScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hasura database support limited to PostgreSQL, MongoDB, ClickHouse, and MS SQL Server only; Prisma prisma Postgres is billed per operation, with the free tier at 100,000 operations and 500 MB of storage
  • They diverge on capability: Hasura covers GraphQL API, Prisma covers ORM.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hasura and Prisma actually diverge.

Attributes where Hasura and Prisma differ
AttributeHasuraPrisma
PlatformsWebNode.js, TypeScript
Founded20172016

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 Hasura

  • GraphQL API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Access control
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • Webhooks
  • Cloud support
  • Self-hosted support

Only in Prisma

  • ORM
  • Query builder
  • Auto-migrations
  • Node.js
  • TypeScript
  • GraphQL
  • Node.js support
  • TypeScript support

Both cover

  • REST APIs

What people use each for

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

Hasura

  • Automatic GraphQL API generation from existing databasesnot Prisma
  • Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot Prisma
  • Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot Prisma
  • Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot Prisma

Prisma

  • Using a type safe ORM and query layer against a Postgres databasenot Hasura
  • Adding a managed connection pool and edge cache in front of an existing databasenot 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

Prisma

  • Prisma Postgres is billed per operation, with the free tier at 100,000 operations and 500 MB of storage
  • Starter at $10 a month includes 1M operations then charges $0.0080 per 1,000
  • Storage overage runs from $2.00 per GB on Starter down to $1.00 per GB on Business, so the unit cost depends on the plan
  • Accelerate charges separately per operation and per GiB of query egress beyond the first 1 KiB
  • Cache tag invalidations are not included below the Pro plan and are billed per thousand above it

Pricing, plan by plan

Hasura

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Hasura review.

Prisma

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full Prisma ORM
    • Community support
  • Professional$50/monthly
    • Extended browser
    • Priority support
    • Monitoring

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 Prisma if

  • You need orm.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, TypeScript.
  • You also want query builder.
Prisma review

Questions people ask

Is Hasura or Prisma better?
Neither clearly leads. Hasura starts at Free and Prisma at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hasura or Prisma?
Hasura starts at Free and Prisma at Free.
Does Hasura or Prisma run on more platforms?
Hasura runs on Web. Prisma runs on Node.js, TypeScript.
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 Prisma is typically brought in for.
What can Hasura do that Prisma cannot?
Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL. Prisma covers ORM, Query builder, Auto-migrations, Node.js. Both handle REST APIs.
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