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Developer Tools

Best GraphQL Tools in 2026

GraphQL work may call for tools to explore APIs, generate client code, test operations or manage schemas. Compare API explorer, client code generation, operation testing and schema registry support, alongside deployment model and server languages.

  1. 01 Altair GraphQL Client

    Altair GraphQL Client suits developers who run and debug GraphQL operations and want schema browsing, scripts or plugins.

    From $7.99/mo Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    9.1 Visit Specs
  2. 02 Apollo Client

    It suits JavaScript and TypeScript developers building GraphQL applications, especially those using React or seeking integrations with other listed frameworks and platforms.

    From $5/mo Free plan Web · iOS · Android · API
    8.9 Visit Specs
  3. 03 GraphiQL

    GraphiQL suits developers who need an in-browser GraphQL IDE or want to embed one in a React application.

    Free plan Web · Self-hosted
    8.4 Visit Specs
  4. 04 GraphQL Hive
    From $20/mo Free plan Web · API · Self-hosted
    8.3 Visit Specs
  5. 05 Ariadne

    It suits Python developers building GraphQL APIs who want schema-first server tools and generated typed clients.

    Free plan Web · Linux · API · Self-hosted
    8.1 Visit Specs
  6. 06 Hot Chocolate

    Hot Chocolate suits .NET developers building GraphQL APIs on ASP.NET Core, including teams that need typed schemas, data-loading tools, or OpenTelemetry instrumentation.

    Free plan Web · API · Self-hosted
    8.1 Visit Specs
  7. 07 Lighthouse

    Lighthouse suits developers building GraphQL services on Laravel or Lumen who want to work with existing Eloquent models and Laravel conventions.

    Free plan API · Self-hosted
    8.1 Visit Specs
  8. 08 GraphQL Kotlin

    It suits Kotlin developers building GraphQL servers or generating type-safe clients with Gradle or Maven.

    Free plan API · Self-hosted
    8.0 Visit Specs
  9. 09 Graphene
    Free plan Linux · Self-hosted
    7.9 Visit Specs
  10. 10 Amazon AppSync
    From $1/mo Web · API
    7.8 Visit Specs
  11. 11 GraphQL Ruby

    It suits Ruby and Ruby on Rails developers building self-hosted GraphQL APIs.

    From $91.67/mo Free plan API · Self-hosted
    7.8 Visit Specs
  12. 12 GraphQL.js

    It suits JavaScript and TypeScript developers building GraphQL servers, clients, tooling or schema workflows.

    Free plan Web · API
    7.7 Visit Specs
  13. 13 Hasura

    Hasura suits developers building APIs over multiple supported databases, whether using cloud hosting, Docker deployment, or on-premises Enterprise Edition.

    Free plan Web · Linux · API · Self-hosted
    7.7 Visit Specs
  14. 14 Netflix DGS

    DGS suits Java or Kotlin teams building self-hosted GraphQL services with Spring Boot.

    Free plan API · Self-hosted
    7.7 Visit Specs
  15. 15 PostGraphile

    PostGraphile suits developers building PostgreSQL-backed GraphQL APIs for SaaS products or internal tools.

    From $25/mo Free plan Web · API · Self-hosted
    7.7 Visit Specs
  16. 16 WunderGraph Cosmo

    Cosmo is for platform teams scaling GraphQL federation, from an initial subgraph to thousands of daily operations.

    From $499/mo Free plan Web · API · Self-hosted
    7.7 Visit Specs
  17. 17 gqlgen
    Free plan Self-hosted
    7.6 Visit Specs
  18. 18 GraphQL Java
    Free plan API · Self-hosted
    7.5 Visit Specs
  19. 19 async-graphql
    Self-hosted
    7.2 Visit Specs
  20. 20 Relay
    Web · iOS · Android
    7.1 Visit Specs
  21. 21 Strawberry GraphQL

    It suits Python developers building GraphQL APIs who want type-hint schemas, asynchronous resolvers, extensibility and federation.

    Free plan API · Self-hosted
    7.1 Visit Specs
  22. 22 Sangria
    API · Self-hosted
    6.8 Visit Specs
  23. 23 urql
    Web · API · Browser extension
    6.8 Visit Specs
  24. 24 Mercurius
    API · Self-hosted
    6.5 Visit Specs
  25. 25 Apollo GraphOS
    Web
    6.1 Visit Specs
How this list is ordered. Specifiction scores each tool on how fully its maker documents it, whether its prices are published, where the research puts it, the platforms it runs on and whether it can be tried for free (how we rank). Makers can also buy a numbered place (how Specifiction is paid for).

Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add practical details for evaluating the options. Altair GraphQL Client, Apollo Studio and Apollo Client are among the tools shown. Check which parts of your development workflow need support, and use the listed capabilities to distinguish tools that address different needs.

Compare Altair GraphQL Client and Apollo Client Get a place on this list

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