Best GraphQL Tools in 2026
Updated
In short: Altair GraphQL Client is ranked #1 of 25 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Apollo Studio and Apollo Client. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Apollo Studio. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Apollo Studio at $5/mo.
GraphQL work can span API exploration, schema management, testing, and code generation. Compare API explorers, client code generation, operation testing, and schema registry support, as well as deployment models and server languages. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add practical factors when weighing options. The ranking starts with GraphQL Hive, Hasura, and WunderGraph Cosmo, followed by Hot Chocolate and Strawberry GraphQL. Use the listed capabilities to consider which tools cover the parts of GraphQL development you need.
25 GraphQL tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
9 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altair GraphQL ClientWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 2 | Apollo StudioWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $5/mo | 6.7 | |
| 3 | Apollo ClientWeb · Android · iPhone · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $5/mo | 6.6 | |
| 4 | GraphQL HiveWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $20/mo | 6.4 | |
| 5 | Hot ChocolateWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 6 | WunderGraph CosmoWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $499/mo | 6.4 | |
| 7 | gqlgenSelf-hosted | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 8 | GraphQL KotlinSelf-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 9 | Strawberry GraphQLSelf-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 10 | RelayWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 11 | GraphiQLWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 12 | PostGraphileWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 13 | urqlWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | AriadneNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 15 | async-graphqlSelf-hosted | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 16 | GrapheneNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 17 | GraphQL RubyNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | GraphQL.jsWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | HasuraWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | LighthouseNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | MercuriusNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | Netflix DGSNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | SangriaNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | GraphQL JavaNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 25 | Amazon AppSyncWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which GraphQL tool is ranked first on Freedom251?
Altair GraphQL Client is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 6.7. Apollo Studio is second and Apollo Client third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Apollo Studio has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.