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Graphcool VS Explore GraphQL

Compare Graphcool VS Explore GraphQL and see what are their differences

Graphcool logo Graphcool

The GraphQL backend for mobile & web developers to build better apps faster ⚡️

Explore GraphQL logo Explore GraphQL

GraphQL benefits, success stories, guides, and more
  • Graphcool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-16
  • Explore GraphQL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-09

Graphcool features and specs

  • Rapid Development
    Graphcool offers a serverless GraphQL backend which allows developers to quickly set up and deploy applications without worrying about infrastructure management.
  • Scalability
    Because it's serverless, Graphcool can easily scale to handle increased load, providing reliable performance even as your application grows.
  • Real-time Capabilities
    Graphcool provides real-time GraphQL subscriptions that allow developers to easily implement features that require real-time data updates.
  • Automated Backups
    Advanced backup features are offered, ensuring that your data is safe and can be restored when needed, enhancing data security and reliability.

Possible disadvantages of Graphcool

  • Vendor Lock-in
    Relying heavily on Graphcool may lead to vendor lock-in, restricting flexibility if you wish to migrate to another platform in the future.
  • Limited Customization
    Being a managed service, there might be limitations on customizing the backend to suit very specific use cases which aren't supported out-of-the-box.
  • Learning Curve
    While there are benefits, new users might face a learning curve to fully utilize the features of Graphcool, especially those unfamiliar with GraphQL.
  • Pricing
    As with many managed services, pricing can become a concern, especially for startups or projects with limited budgets as the service scales.

Explore GraphQL features and specs

  • Efficient Data Fetching
    GraphQL allows clients to specify exactly what data they need, reducing over-fetching and under-fetching of data compared to traditional REST APIs.
  • Flexible Queries
    Clients have the power to request different data structures with GraphQL without changing the backend, allowing for greater flexibility in data retrieval.
  • Strongly Typed Schema
    GraphQL APIs are defined by a strongly typed schema, which can lead to greater consistency and predictability in API responses.
  • Single Endpoint
    All interactions with a GraphQL API happen through a single endpoint, which can simplify the API architecture and management.
  • Ecosystem and Tooling
    GraphQL has a rich ecosystem of tools and features, such as introspection for automatic documentation, which make development more efficient.

Possible disadvantages of Explore GraphQL

  • Complexity of Implementation
    Setting up a GraphQL server can be complex, and it requires changes in existing architecture, especially in transitioning from REST APIs.
  • Over-fetching at the Client
    If not managed properly, clients might request more data than needed, leading to performance issues, unlike REST where endpoint responses are fixed.
  • Caching Difficulties
    GraphQL’s flexibility can make caching responses challenging because the same endpoint can return vastly different responses based on the query.
  • Security Concerns
    GraphQL can be vulnerable to query complexities and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks because clients have the flexibility to craft expensive queries.
  • Learning Curve
    Developers familiar with REST may face a learning curve when adapting to GraphQL's concepts and paradigms.

Graphcool videos

Review: Graphcool - GraphQL backend as a service

More videos:

  • Demo - Graphcool Framework Demo (GraphQL Backend Framework)
  • Review - #5 Intro To GraphCool UI & GraphQL - Level 2 React Native with GraphQL

Explore GraphQL videos

No Explore GraphQL videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Graphcool and Explore GraphQL)
Developer Tools
57 57%
43% 43
APIs
26 26%
74% 74
Realtime Backend / API
48 48%
52% 52
GraphQL
44 44%
56% 56

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Graphcool and Explore GraphQL, you can also consider the following products

Prisma - Art filters using artificial intelligence to transform your photos into classic artwork.

How to GraphQL - Open-source tutorial website to learn GraphQL development

Hasura - Hasura is an open platform to build scalable app backends, offering a built-in database, search, user-management and more.

GraphQl Editor - Editor for GraphQL that lets you draw GraphQL schemas using visual nodes

Firebase - Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications for mobile and web.

GraphQL Playground - GraphQL IDE for better development workflows