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APIs · head to head

Hasura vs Tribe Payments

Hasura logo

Hasura

APIs

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Tribe Payments logo

Tribe Payments

APIs

Combined issuer and acquirer processing platform for fintechs, banks and acquirers

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; Tribe Payments running both issuing and acquiring through one vendor concentrates operational risk, since a platform fault affects both sides of a client's card business at once rather than just one.
  • They diverge on capability: Hasura covers GraphQL API, Tribe Payments covers ISAAC core platform.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hasura and Tribe Payments actually diverge.

Attributes where Hasura and Tribe Payments differ
AttributeHasuraTribe Payments
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, API
Founded2017Unknown

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 Tribe Payments

  • ISAAC core platform
  • Issuer processing
  • Acquirer processing
  • Multi-scheme connectivity
  • Open banking module
  • 3D Secure and fraud tooling

What people use each for

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

Hasura

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

Tribe Payments

  • A bank or fintech wanting to run both card issuing and merchant acquiring on one processing platformnot Hasura
  • A payment facilitator consolidating separate issuing and acquiring vendor relationships into one contractnot Hasura
  • A company needing multi-scheme processing across Visa, Mastercard and regional networks like UnionPaynot Hasura
  • An Asia-Pacific expansion where Tribe's Singapore office provides regional supportnot 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

Tribe Payments

  • Running both issuing and acquiring through one vendor concentrates operational risk, since a platform fault affects both sides of a client's card business at once rather than just one.
  • Pricing for either the issuing or acquiring modules is not published, so budgeting requires a sales conversation.
  • With roughly 60-plus customers, it is smaller scale than Visa or Mastercard-owned processing infrastructure, which is a factor for a client prioritising vendor size and track record.
  • Its client base and support depth are concentrated in the UK and continental Europe, and the Asia-Pacific presence via Singapore is comparatively newer and less proven.
  • As with any combined issuing and acquiring platform, a client that only needs one side still evaluates and pays for a vendor built around doing both, which may not be the most specialised option available.

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

Tribe Payments

On request
  • Tribe Payments$undefined/year
    • Pricing not published for issuing or acquiring modules
    • 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 Tribe Payments if

  • You need isaac core platform.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want issuer processing.

Questions people ask

Is Hasura or Tribe Payments better?
Neither clearly leads. Hasura starts at Free and Tribe Payments at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hasura or Tribe Payments?
Hasura has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Hasura and On request for Tribe Payments.
Does Hasura or Tribe Payments run on more platforms?
Hasura runs on Web. Tribe Payments runs on Web, API.
Can I use Hasura for free?
Yes. Hasura has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Tribe Payments 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 Tribe Payments is typically brought in for.
What can Hasura do that Tribe Payments cannot?
Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL. Tribe Payments covers ISAAC core platform, Issuer processing, Acquirer processing, Multi-scheme connectivity.

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
Tribe Payments: Does Tribe do both issuing and acquiring?

Yes, its ISAAC platform supports both, built for issuing in 2019 and acquiring from 2020.

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
Tribe Payments: How many card schemes does it support?

Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, JCB and UnionPay.

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
Tribe Payments: Where is its customer base concentrated?

The UK and continental Europe, with a newer Singapore office serving Asia-Pacific.

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