Apollo Client

Overview

Apollo Client is a JavaScript library for handling GraphQL data in applications. It is best suited to teams building JavaScript or TypeScript clients that need data fetching and state management tied to the UI. Its open-source client is free; teams considering GraphOS should weigh its router and retention caps against the support and data history they need.

Key features

Developers describe a query and receive data without manually tracking loading states. Normalized request and response caching can make repeat queries return almost immediately, and Apollo Client can modify application data and update the UI automatically. That combination suits applications with recurring GraphQL data needs; it is more than a team seeking only an API explorer requires.

The core @apollo/client package integrates with React, including hooks and Suspense. Incremental adoption works in JavaScript and TypeScript applications, across build setups and GraphQL APIs, which makes it a practical option for adding a client without replacing an entire stack. Community integrations extend to Angular, Vue, Svelte, Solid.js, Ember, Meteor, Apollo Elements web components, and native iOS and Android.

With GraphOS Router, Apollo Client supports @defer incremental delivery, GraphQL subscriptions, and persisted-query safelisting. Chrome and Firefox Devtools extensions provide GraphiQL and inspectors for watched queries, mutations, and cache state. GraphOS also includes Explorer, a schema registry, schema-usage insights, and organization-based team collaboration for free.

Apollo passed a SOC 2 Type II audit with no exceptions in May 2024, holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification as of October 10, 2024, and states compliance with NIST SP 800-171. These are relevant assurance points for organizations evaluating its security posture, though they do not change the plan limits.

Pricing

The Apollo Client library is open source and free. GraphOS plans add team, retention, router, and support provisions:

PlanPriceLimits and supportFreefreeUp to 3 developers; one self-hosted GraphOS Router limited to 60 requests per minute; 1-day data retention; community support.Developer$5 a monthUp to 10 developers; 7-day retention; Developer Support (8×5, no SLA); $50 usage credit when you sign up. Billed monthly, with automatic volume discounts as usage scales.StandardCustom pricingUp to 30 developers; 90-day retention; Standard Support (8×5, with SLA).EnterpriseCustom pricingUnlimited developers; 18-month retention; Business Support (24×7×365, with SLA).Free is a sensible starting point for small teams that can operate within the 60-request-per-minute router ceiling and one-day history. Developer raises the developer cap and retention, but still has no SLA. Standard is for teams that need an SLA and three months of data; Enterprise suits larger organizations that need 24×7×365 SLA-backed support and longer retention. Standard and Enterprise require a sales conversation for pricing.

Platforms

Apollo Client is categorized for Android, iOS, web, API, and extension. The underlying library targets JavaScript, with React integration and community options for other frameworks and native platforms. GraphOS has a hybrid deployment model, alongside a schema registry, API explorer, and operation testing; client code generation is not included.

Who it's for

Choose Apollo Client when an application needs a GraphQL client that combines declarative fetching, normalized caching, and UI updates, especially in a React project or a codebase that can use one of its community integrations. It is less suitable if the main requirement is generated client code, or if a small team needs more than the Free plan's router throughput or data retention.

Pros and cons

Integrated data handling: Queries, caching, data modification, and UI updates live in one client, reducing the need to manage loading state and repeated responses separately.

Flexible adoption: React support is built in, while JavaScript and TypeScript apps can adopt the client incrementally across build setups.

Broad integration reach: Community integrations cover several web frameworks and native mobile options, extending use beyond React.

Free GraphOS entry has tight limits: Three developers, one router at 60 requests per minute, and one-day retention may constrain teams that need sustained usage or longer operational history.

Support improves with paid tiers: Developer has no SLA; SLA-backed support begins with Standard, whose price is custom.

No client code generation: Teams requiring that capability will need a different tool or an additional solution.

Alternatives

GraphQL Tools is a category starting point for comparing options. Choose Altair GraphQL Client when you want an API client with a Basic tier that allows up to two team members, 20 queries, unlimited collections, and 10 revisions of query history; its Pro plan is 7.99 USD pe.

Apollo Studio is the alternative to consider when you want the GraphOS management product itself: its Free tier has up to three developers, a router capped at 60 requests per minute, and one-day retention. GraphQL Hive may fit a team comparing schema and operation tooling with a free Hobby plan that includes 1M operations per month, seven-day usage retention, and unlimited seats, projects, organizations, and schema pushes.

Hasura is worth comparing when a free tier capped at two databases per project, 100MB data passthrough per month, and 3M API requests per month matches the intended workload. Hot Chocolate is a free, MIT-licensed option for building GraphQL APIs. GraphiQL is a free, MIT-licensed package for React applications.

PostGraphile and Ariadne are also alternatives to consider.

Verdict

Apollo Client is a strong choice for JavaScript and TypeScript teams that want GraphQL fetching, caching, and UI integration in one client, particularly those using React. Its free open-source core is the main reason to choose it; look elsewhere if you need client code generation, or examine GraphOS plan limits and custom-priced support carefully before relying on its managed team features.