Spencer Nguyen - January 25, 2024
Hasura is known for its ability to rapidly create and manage GraphQL APIs. However, it’s always beneficial to explore alternatives that might better suit your project needs. In this post, we’ll delve into nine Hasura Alternatives, each offering unique features and advantages. From cloud-based solutions to open-source platforms, we cover a range of options to help you find the perfect fit for your API development needs.
Here are the four main points from this article:
- The alternatives range from cloud-based solutions like AWS AppSync and Amazon API Gateway to open-source options like Parse and Appsmith.
- Key highlights include ease of API creation, robust security measures, and integration with various databases and third-party services.
- Some platforms, like DreamFactory and PrestoAPI, emphasize REST API capabilities, while others focus on GraphQL support.
- The guide is designed to help developers choose the right tool based on factors such as customization needs, database compatibility, and pricing structures.
Table of Contents
What is Hasura?
Hasura is a hosted, open-source engine that provides a fast way to build GraphQL APIs on top of new or existing databases. It connects to your databases and microservices and instantly generates a production-ready GraphQL API backend.
Key Features of Hasura
Hasura offers a wide variety of different tools to assist in the creation of GraphQL APIs.
- Real-time GraphQL: Hasura allows you to query your data in real-time using subscriptions. This feature is particularly useful for building dynamic user interfaces where data needs to be updated in real-time.
- Instant Setup: It provides instant setup on existing databases. By connecting to your database, Hasura auto-generates queries, mutations, and subscriptions.
- Easy to Use: Hasura is designed to be easy to use, even for those who are not familiar with GraphQL. It provides a user-friendly interface to manage your GraphQL APIs.
- Supports Multiple Databases: It supports various databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, and more, making it versatile for different use cases.
Hasura starts at $0 for experimentation, but in order to connect to multiple databases, you’ll need to upgrade your plan.
Pros and Cons of Using Hasura
like any technology, comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a breakdown of some key pros and cons:
Pros:
- Hasura enables swift creation of functional GraphQL APIs.
- Hasura is a hosted, managed service.
- Offers dynamic updates in user interfaces with real-time GraphQL.
- Provides detailed, role-based access control.
- Efficiently manages large-scale queries and mutations.
- Easily integrates with existing databases for GraphQL
Cons:
- Learning curve for GraphQL can be steep; RESTful APIs might be better in some cases.
- Best features with PostgreSQL, potentially limiting with other databases.
- Basic operations are easy, but complex logic requires advanced Hasura knowledge.
- Although Hasura can be made secure, it is very insecure out of the box.
- Robust but complex access controls can pose security risks if misconfigured.
- Heavy reliance on Hasura’s features can lead to vendor lock-in.
- Effective scaling with Hasura demands a deep understanding of the tool and database.
Hasura is highly beneficial for rapid development of real-time applications, especially if you’re comfortable with GraphQL and PostgreSQL. However, its reliance on these technologies and potential complexities in scaling and custom logic implementation are factors to consider before adopting it for your project.
Top Hasura Alternatives
Each of the 10 alternatives we’ll cover offers unique features and advantages over Hasura, making them worth considering if you’re looking for a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and scalable tool.
1. DreamFactory
Rating: 4.5/5 on G2
DreamFactory is the easiest way to automatically generate, publish, manage, and secure REST APIs, convert SOAP to REST, and aggregate disparate data sources through a single API platform. It’s sort of like Hasura, but for REST APIs!
Instantly generate APIs from any database with built-in enterprise security controls that operates on-premises, air-gapped, or in the cloud.
DreamFactory also generates a comprehensive REST API for SQL, NoSQL, file storage, email, and push notifications. You can securely call any web services, including custom-built REST APIs and SOAP services. DreamFactory generates and publishes your new REST API in seconds and with live API docs.
DreamFactory also provides server-side scripting with the V8 Javascript Engine, Node.js, PHP, and Python. DreamFactory makes it easy to write server-side scripts and attach your scripts to any API request and response event.
DreamFactory makes pricing easy, it offers a free open source version, but scales based on your business needs.
2. CData API Server
Rating: Unrated on G2
CData API Server, a streamlined web application, facilitates effortless API creation for data access, requiring no custom coding. It’s designed for simplicity, with a point-and-click setup, allowing easy data API creation and integration with various popular clients like Microsoft Power BI, Salesforce Lightning Connect, and Excel, thus making data from different sources easily accessible for diverse applications and tools.
Core Features of CData API Server:
- Effortless Data API Creation: Enables quick, code-free setup of data APIs through a user-friendly interface, allowing users to easily define and configure data sources as APIs.
- Smooth Integration with Popular Clients: Offers easy connection with applications such as Microsoft Power BI and Salesforce, enhancing data access and usage within preferred tools.
- Intuitive Point-and-Click Configuration: Eliminates manual coding by allowing users to set data access rules, manage data transformations, and configure security settings using visual controls, simplifying the API setup process.
3. Appsmith
Rating: 4.7/5 on G2
Appsmith stands as an open-source tool, adept at crafting visually engaging and functional internal applications, integrated with various data sources. It’s ideal for creating diverse internal tools like customer support portals, sales dashboards, and data management interfaces, offering rapid development for varied internal needs.
Core Features of Appsmith:
- Enables improved access control, version management, and collaborative development with Git hosting.
- Provides detailed tracking of user activities and events, essential for monitoring, troubleshooting, and compliance.
- Allows setting specific access permissions based on roles and groups for various application components.
While Appsmith offers many ready-to-use features, its customization scope for complex or specific needs might be limited, which could restrict tailoring applications to exact business requirements.
4. PrestoAPI
Rating: 4.6/5 on G2
PrestoAPI, a cloud-based no-code solution, swiftly creates RESTful APIs from diverse data sources, supporting SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Oracle, thus facilitating integration across different data environments.
Key Features of PrestoAPI:
- Role-Based Access Control: Offers precise access management by assigning user roles, enhancing security and permission granularity in applications or projects.
- Enhanced Security Framework: Focuses on security with tools like Identity Server, OAuth 2.0, and Active Directory, crucial for user authentication, authorization, and protecting sensitive API data.
While PrestoAPI’s functionality is notable, its user interface may demand extra effort for effective navigation and use. Evaluating the UI’s ease of use is recommended to ensure it aligns with your team’s needs and preferences, as this assessment can confirm its suitability for your development projects.
5. Back4app
Rating: 4.8/5 on G2
Back4App is a cloud-based backend platform that provides a suite of tools for developers to build, host, and manage applications more efficiently. Back4app is also known for its GraphQL database hosting platform. It provides a managed backend highlighting automated provisioning and scaling of GraphQL databases, backup and recovery, and 24/7 support.
Some advantages of Back4app:
- Back4App enables the creation and exposure of GraphQL and REST APIs, providing flexibility in how data is accessed and manipulated.
- The platform allows developers to build and expose parts of their database schema as GraphQL or REST APIs, facilitating easy data interaction for frontend applications.
- Offers a multitenant dashboard for managing different environments or versions of applications, enhancing administrative efficiency.
However, for very high-traffic applications, Back4App might face performance limitations compared to custom-built backend solutions, especially in handling complex queries and large-scale data operations.
6. AWS AppSync
Rating: 4.3/5 on G2
AWS AppSync, a serverless GraphQL service, stands out in facilitating the development of mobile and web applications. Its strength lies in enabling the creation and management of real-time data subscriptions, coupled with the capability to maintain app data access even when mobile devices go offline.
Some of AWS AppSync’s key features:
- AppSync enables the creation of customizable GraphQL APIs, offering versatile and efficient data management.
- Offers seamless integration with AWS services like DynamoDB, Aurora, Elasticsearch, and Lambda, enhancing data storage and processing.
- Features offline data sync, ensuring app functionality and data consistency without internet connectivity.
- Supports real-time data access and updates, essential for apps needing instant data interaction.
- Provides comprehensive querying, search, and filtering options, ideal for efficiently managing large datasets.
AppSync’s integration with GraphQL and various AWS services can however present a steep learning curve, especially for developers unfamiliar with GraphQL or AWS ecosystem.
7. Amazon API Gateway
Rating: 4.1/5 on G2
Amazon API Gateway stands as a robust and scalable solution, streamlining API creation, management, and security. Its essential attributes and a critical consideration are as follows:
Advantages of Amazon API Gateway:
- Intuitive interface for easy API creation and management, supporting RESTful and WebSocket APIs for interactive apps.
- Handles high API traffic volumes with effective traffic management, ensuring consistent performance during growth.
- Offers robust security with multiple authorization options, ensuring tight access control and data protection.
Utilizing Amazon API Gateway may lead to reliance on the AWS ecosystem, as it’s deeply integrated with other AWS services. A future shift to another cloud provider could necessitate significant changes to your API infrastructure.
8. Rapid API
Rating: 3.9/5 on G2
RapidAPI, recognized as a significant API hub, serves over three million developers, offering a platform to discover, test, and integrate various APIs using a unified API key and dashboard. It allows developers to locate necessary APIs for their projects, incorporate them into applications, and monitor the usage of all their APIs from a centralized dashboard.
- Provides a vast collection of APIs across different categories, making it easier for developers to find and select the APIs they need for their projects.
- Allows the use of a single API key to access multiple APIs, simplifying the integration process and reducing the complexity of managing different keys for different services.
- Features a dashboard that provides insights into API usage, including call volumes, performance metrics, and error rates, helping developers monitor and optimize their API integrations.
- Provides a centralized platform for managing all API integrations, streamlining the process of tracking and updating APIs used in various projects.
However, keep in mind that some APIs on RapidAPI may have costs associated with them, particularly for higher usage levels, which could be a concern for budget-conscious projects.
9. Parse
Rating 3.7/5 on G2
Parse, originally a mobile backend-as-a-service provider, was acquired by Facebook in 2013. In 2016, its source code was released as open-source. Since then, Parse has evolved into a vibrant open-source community, complete with its own blog, documentation, and forum. In 2019, Parse introduced GraphQL functionality, which has seen rapidly growing adoption.
- Enables efficient, precise data querying with GraphQL, allowing clients to request exactly what they need.
- Provides traditional REST API support, familiar and easy to integrate with standard web services.
- Allows developers to create custom GraphQL/REST APIs and make them available for application integration or third-party use.
Parse’s functionality, especially in its cloud-hosted version, may rely on third-party services and integrations, which could introduce additional points of failure or dependencies.
Build REST APIs Fast with DreamFactory
Developing APIs can be a complex, time consuming, and expensive process. It also exposes businesses to a number of risks including consistency, quality, and developer resourcing. DreamFactory is a REST API generation tool for 20+ databases and a range of other data sources. It gives you the ability to generate secure and fully documented APIs in a matter of minutes. Ready to get started?
Frequently Asked Questions: Hasura Alternatives
What are Hasura Alternatives?
Hasura alternatives are various platforms and services that offer similar functionalities to Hasura, including API development, database integration, and management tools.
Why consider alternatives to Hasura?
Alternatives to Hasura might offer different features, pricing models, database compatibilities, or better suit specific project requirements and developer preferences.
Can these alternatives handle both GraphQL and REST APIs?
Yes, many of the alternatives listed, like AWS AppSync and DreamFactory, support both GraphQL and REST API architectures, catering to diverse development needs.
Are there open-source options available among these alternatives?
Yes, some of the alternatives, such as Parse and Appsmith, are open-source, offering flexibility and community-driven support.
Do these alternatives provide robust security features?
Many of the alternatives emphasize security, offering features like role-based access control, OAuth, and integration with identity management systems.
Are these alternatives suitable for large-scale applications?
Yes, most of the listed alternatives are designed to scale and can be suitable for large-scale applications, though specific capabilities vary by platform.
As a seasoned content moderator with a keen eye for detail and a passion for upholding the highest standards of quality and integrity in all of their work, Spencer Nguyen brings a professional yet empathetic approach to every task.