Software · head to head
HTTPie vs GraphQL Apollo
HTTPie
Software
Command-line HTTP client with intuitive interface and syntax
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: HTTPie the desktop application is in public beta rather than a finished release; GraphQL Apollo standard and Enterprise tiers publish no figures and require contacting sales through a Talk to Sales link, while paid usage is metered at $5 per million requests rather than by seat
- They diverge on capability: HTTPie covers REST Client, GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which HTTPie and GraphQL Apollo actually diverge.
| Attribute | HTTPie | GraphQL Apollo |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Linux, MacOS, Windows, Web | JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 2012 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), 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 HTTPie
- REST Client
- JSON support
- Colored output
- CI/CD
- Shell scripting
- Automation
- Linux support
- MacOS support
Only in GraphQL Apollo
- Apollo Server
- Apollo Client
- GraphQL Federation
- REST APIs
- Microservices
- Databases
- JavaScript support
- Node.js support
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
HTTPie
- Sending and inspecting HTTP requests from the terminalnot GraphQL Apollo
- A readable alternative to curl for API debuggingnot GraphQL Apollo
- Testing APIs through a graphical clientnot GraphQL Apollo
- Installing through apt, brew or pip in a development environmentnot GraphQL Apollo
GraphQL Apollo
- API Developmentnot HTTPie
- API Gatewaynot HTTPie
- API Testingnot HTTPie
- API Documentationnot HTTPie
- Microservicesnot HTTPie
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
HTTPie
- The desktop application is in public beta rather than a finished release
- Pricing for the desktop and web products is not published, while the terminal client is free and open source
- The graphical versions are newer than the CLI, so parity between them is not guaranteed
GraphQL Apollo
- Standard and Enterprise tiers publish no figures and require contacting sales through a Talk to Sales link, while paid usage is metered at $5 per million requests rather than by seat
- Developer plan caps at 10 users and Standard caps at 30 users before requiring the sales-gated Enterprise tier
Pricing, plan by plan
HTTPie
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full HTTPie CLI
- Community support
- HTTPie for Web$10/monthly
- Web interface
- Cloud storage
- Team collaboration
GraphQL Apollo
Free- CommunityFree
- Apollo Server
- Apollo Client
- Community support
- Studio Starter$49/monthly
- Apollo Studio
- GraphQL monitoring
- Collaboration
- Studio Professional$399/monthly
- Advanced analytics
- Priority support
- SLA
Which should you pick?
Choose HTTPie if
- You need rest client.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Web.
- You also want json support.
Choose GraphQL Apollo if
- You need apollo server.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile.
- You also want apollo client.
Questions people ask
- Is HTTPie or GraphQL Apollo better?
- Neither clearly leads. HTTPie starts at Free and GraphQL Apollo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, HTTPie or GraphQL Apollo?
- HTTPie starts at Free and GraphQL Apollo at Free.
- Does HTTPie or GraphQL Apollo run on more platforms?
- HTTPie runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Web. GraphQL Apollo runs on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile.
- Can I use HTTPie for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is HTTPie best used for?
- HTTPie is most often used for sending and inspecting http requests from the terminal, a readable alternative to curl for api debugging, testing apis through a graphical client, installing through apt, brew or pip in a development environment. Of those, sending and inspecting http requests from the terminal and a readable alternative to curl for api debugging are not what GraphQL Apollo is typically brought in for.
- What can HTTPie do that GraphQL Apollo cannot?
- HTTPie covers REST Client, JSON support, Colored output, CI/CD. GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, Apollo Client, GraphQL Federation, REST APIs. Both handle Web support.