Apollo Client

Apollo Client is a free, open-source GraphQL state management library for JavaScript. It handles local and remote data, fetching, caching, and modifications, then updates the application UI. Developers can write queries without manually tracking loading states, and normalized caching can make cached queries respond almost immediately. The core @apollo/client library includes React integration, with support for hooks and Suspense. It can be adopted incrementally in JavaScript or TypeScript applications and works with any build setup and GraphQL API. Community integrations include Angular, Vue, Svelte, Solid.js, Ember, Apollo Elements web components, and native iOS and Android. Apollo Client also supports GraphOS Router features such as incremental delivery, subscriptions, and persisted-query safelisting. Chrome and Firefox Devtools offer GraphiQL and inspectors for watched queries, mutations, and the cache. GraphOS’s Free plan includes one self-hosted router limited to 60 requests per minute and one-day data retention. Its separate Developer plan is $5 a month, billed monthly.

Apollo Client provides data fetching and normalized caching for GraphQL applications, with React integration and community framework options. Distinguish the free client library from GraphOS plan limits and paid support tiers.

It suits JavaScript and TypeScript developers building applications with GraphQL, especially those using React. Teams using GraphOS should account for the Free plan’s router, retention, developer, and support limits.

Overview

Apollo Client is a JavaScript library for managing GraphQL data in applications. It is best suited to developers who want data fetching, caching and UI updates handled in one client. Its central advantage is a capable free, open-source client; GraphOS adds optional team and operational plans, with caps that matter as a project grows.

Key features

Developers can declare a query and receive its data without manually managing loading states. Normalized caching stores request and response data, which can let repeated queries return almost immediately; automatic UI updates help keep displayed data current as application data changes. These are meaningful advantages for apps that repeatedly fetch and render GraphQL data, but less useful if the need is only to explore an API.

The core @apollo/client package integrates with React, including hooks and Suspense. Incremental adoption in JavaScript or TypeScript apps, compatibility with any build setup and GraphQL API, and community integrations for Angular, Vue, Svelte, Solid.js, Ember, Meteor, Apollo Elements, iOS and Android give teams options beyond a React-first project. Those non-React paths rely on community integrations rather than the core package's built-in React integration.

For GraphOS Router features, the client supports incremental delivery with @defer, GraphQL subscriptions and persisted-query safelisting. Chrome and Firefox Devtools extensions include GraphiQL and inspectors for watched queries, mutations and cache. Apollo also provides the Explorer IDE, schema registry, schema-usage insights and organization-based team collaboration at no cost. The client does not include code generation, so teams seeking generated client code will need another approach.

Pricing

Apollo Client itself is free and open source. GraphOS is a separate set of plans for teams needing router capacity, data retention and support; its plan limits should not be confused with a fee for the client library.

• Free — free. Up to 3 developers, one self-hosted GraphOS Router limited to 60 requests per minute, 1-day data retention and community support. It suits small teams evaluating or running modest workloads, but the router ceiling and short retention constrain sustained operational use.
• Developer — $5 a month. Billed monthly, with automatic volume discounts as usage scales. Includes up to 10 developers, 7-day retention, Developer Support (8×5, no SLA) and a $50 usage credit when you sign up. It is a step up for a small team needing more seats and retention, though support has no SLA and retention remains limited.
• Standard — custom pricing. Talk to sales; includes up to 30 developers, 90-day retention and Standard Support (8×5, with SLA). It fits teams that need a service commitment and a longer history than Developer provides.
• Enterprise — custom pricing. Talk to sales; includes unlimited developers, 18-month retention and Business Support (24×7×365, with SLA). It is aimed at organizations requiring broad access, long retention and round-the-clock SLA-backed support.

Platforms

Apollo Client is listed for Android, iOS, web, API and extension platforms. The core library is JavaScript-oriented, with native mobile integrations and browser Devtools extensions among its ecosystem options. Its deployment model is hybrid; it also provides a schema registry, API explorer and operation testing.

Who it's for

Choose Apollo Client when a JavaScript or TypeScript application needs GraphQL fetching, normalized caching and coordinated UI updates, especially if React is the primary interface. Its incremental adoption and broad community integrations make it adaptable across an existing application stack. Teams that only need to inspect or test APIs, or require client code generation, should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Declarative queries and normalized caching reduce the need to manage loading and repeat-fetch behavior manually.
• Pro: Built-in React integration plus community options for other frameworks and native mobile broaden its usefulness across application types.
• Pro: GraphiQL and focused query, mutation and cache inspectors help developers examine client behavior in Chrome or Firefox.
• Con: The free GraphOS plan limits its self-hosted router to 60 requests per minute and data retention to one day.
• Con: Developer Support has no SLA, while SLA-backed support begins on custom-priced Standard.
• Con: Client code generation is not included, and non-React integrations are community offerings.

Alternatives

GraphQL Tools is a broader category to browse if Apollo Client is not the type of tool you need. Consider Relay instead if its free GraphQL client and Android, iOS and web platform coverage better suit your project.

Altair GraphQL Client is worth considering when a dedicated GraphQL client across browser, desktop and self-hosted platforms is a better fit; its Basic plan allows up to 2 team members and 20 queries, with unlimited collections and query history up to 10 revisions. Apollo Studio is an adjacent freemium option with a free plan for up to 3 developers, a router limited to 60 requests per minute and one-day retention.

GraphQL Hive offers a free Hobby plan with 1M operations per month, 7-day usage retention and unlimited seats, projects, organizations, schema pushes and checks. GraphQL Kotlin is an open-source API and self-hosted option under Apache License 2.0; Hot Chocolate is an MIT-licensed API and self-hosted option for commercial or private projects.

WunderGraph Cosmo has a free Developer plan for one federated graph, 10M requests per month, 10 subgraphs, one team member, 7-day retention and community support. GraphQL Ruby is a free API and self-hosted option with a Ruby gem implementing the GraphQL server specification.

Verdict

Apollo Client is a strong choice for developers building GraphQL applications who want fetching, normalized caching and React integration in one free, open-source library. Its breadth of integrations and developer tools strengthen that case; look elsewhere if code generation is essential, or assess GraphOS plan limits carefully if your team needs higher router capacity, longer retention or SLA-backed support.