Head-to-Head: Apollo Client vs urql Analysis

@apollo/client

v3.11.1(3 days ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 14Monthly npm downloads

@apollo/client is a comprehensive state management library for JavaScript applications, particularly those using GraphQL. It provides a powerful and flexible way to manage application state and interact with GraphQL APIs. With features like caching, local state management, and error handling, @apollo/client simplifies the process of fetching and managing data from a GraphQL server.

Alternatives:
urql+
react-query+
relay+
swr+
react-apollo-hooks+
vue-apollo+
apollo-angular+
svelte-apollo+
apollo-cache-inmemory+
apollo-link-state+

Tags: javascriptstate-managementgraphqlcachingdata-fetching

urql

v4.1.0(3 months ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 2Monthly npm downloads

Urql is a lightweight and versatile GraphQL client for React applications. It offers a simple and intuitive API for fetching and managing GraphQL data, with built-in caching and automatic updates. Urql focuses on performance and efficiency, providing features like automatic batching and deduplication of requests to minimize network traffic. It also supports server-side rendering and integrates seamlessly with popular state management libraries like Redux and MobX.

Alternatives:
react-query+
swr+
apollo-client+
react-relay+
react-fetching-library+
axios-hooks+
use-http+
react-apollo-hooks+
graphql-hooks+
fetch-suspense+

Tags: graphqlclientreactperformancecaching

Fight!

Popularity

Both @apollo/client and urql are popular libraries for working with GraphQL in JavaScript applications. However, @apollo/client has gained more popularity and has a larger community following compared to urql.

Size

@apollo/client is a more feature-rich library and hence has a larger bundle size compared to urql. urql, on the other hand, is designed to be lightweight and has a smaller bundle size, making it suitable for performance-sensitive applications.

Functionality

@apollo/client provides a comprehensive set of features for working with GraphQL, including caching, optimistic UI, and subscription support. It has built-in integration with React and offers a seamless developer experience. urql, while not as feature-rich as @apollo/client, still provides essential functionality for querying and mutating data with GraphQL.

Developer Experience

@apollo/client offers a highly intuitive and well-documented API, making it easy for developers to get started and work with GraphQL. It has excellent TypeScript support, type generation, and a strong focus on tooling. urql also provides a solid developer experience and TypeScript support but might have a slightly steeper learning curve compared to @apollo/client.

Ecosystem

Both libraries have a vibrant ecosystem and community support. @apollo/client is part of the larger Apollo GraphQL ecosystem, which includes additional tools and libraries for GraphQL development. urql has a smaller ecosystem by comparison but still has integrations with popular libraries and frameworks.

Integration

Both @apollo/client and urql integrate well with React and can be used seamlessly in React applications. They provide hooks-based APIs for working with GraphQL queries and mutations within React components. Additionally, they both support server-side rendering (SSR) and work well in various JavaScript frameworks.

Flexibility

urql is known for its flexibility and allows more fine-grained control over the caching and network layers. It gives developers the ability to customize various aspects of its behavior. @apollo/client, on the other hand, offers a more opinionated approach with its cache implementation and provides a more batteries-included solution for most GraphQL use cases.