Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PostGraphile VS JsonAPI

Compare PostGraphile VS JsonAPI and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

PostGraphile logo PostGraphile

GraphQL API for Postgres

JsonAPI logo JsonAPI

Application and Data, Languages & Frameworks, and Query Languages
  • PostGraphile Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-23
  • JsonAPI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-21

PostGraphile features and specs

  • Automatic API Generation
    PostGraphile automatically generates a GraphQL API from a PostgreSQL database, simplifying the development process by eliminating the need to manually create API endpoints.
  • Efficient Performance
    PostGraphile is optimized for performance, offering features like query planning and batching to ensure that it handles large and complex queries efficiently.
  • Rapid Prototyping
    The tool enables rapid prototyping by quickly turning a database schema into a working API, which is useful for testing ideas and building MVPs.
  • Feature Rich
    PostGraphile supports various advanced features out-of-the-box, such as real-time updates with subscriptions, advanced filtering, and pagination.
  • Strong PostgreSQL Integration
    Being specifically designed for PostgreSQL, PostGraphile provides deep integration with PostgreSQL features, making it possible to leverage database functions, views, and security features directly.

Possible disadvantages of PostGraphile

  • Steep Learning Curve
    While powerful, PostGraphile can be complex to learn, especially for developers unfamiliar with PostgreSQL or GraphQL, due to its extensive configuration options and feature set.
  • Limited to PostgreSQL
    PostGraphile is designed to work specifically with PostgreSQL, which means it cannot be used with other databases like MySQL or MongoDB, limiting its applicability in diverse tech stacks.
  • Overhead for Simple Applications
    For simple applications, the advanced features and automatic generation can create unnecessary overhead, potentially complicating simple CRUD operations.
  • Less Control Over SQL
    Since automatic GraphQL generation is based on the database schema, developers may have less fine-grained control over the SQL queries that are generated, which can be a limitation for highly optimized or specific query requirements.
  • Dependency on Database Schema
    Changes in the database schema directly affect the API, which can be a drawback if the schema evolves frequently, requiring more cautious database management to ensure API stability.

JsonAPI features and specs

  • Standardization
    JSON:API provides a standardized format for building APIs, which promotes consistency and interoperability between different APIs.
  • Efficiency
    It supports features like sparse fieldsets, compound documents, and included relationships which help in reducing the amount of data transferred and improving response times.
  • Decoupling
    JSON:API encourages a clear separation between client and server, allowing them to evolve independently as long as they adhere to the specification.
  • Error Handling
    It has a well-defined error format that makes it easier for clients to understand what went wrong and how to fix it.
  • Community and Tooling
    A growing community and increasing tooling support make it easier to implement JSON:API in various server-side and client-side technologies.

Possible disadvantages of JsonAPI

  • Complexity
    The specification can be complex and may introduce a learning curve for developers who are new to it or used to simpler REST approaches.
  • Overhead
    Strict adherence to the JSON:API specification can sometimes introduce additional overhead in terms of implementation effort, especially for small projects.
  • Flexibility
    While the standardization is beneficial, it can reduce flexibility in scenarios where a more customized or optimized solution is needed.
  • Adoption
    Although growing, JSON:API is not as widely adopted as other conventions like simple REST, and thus some developers and projects might resist switching to it.
  • Resource Intensive
    Some features of JSON:API, like relationship links and included resources, can become resource-intensive for the server if not implemented carefully.

PostGraphile videos

Full-Stack Developer talks PostGraphile, GraphQL, Angular and Philosophy of Developing!

JsonAPI videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PostGraphile and JsonAPI)
Realtime Backend / API
100 100%
0% 0
Development
0 0%
100% 100
GraphQL
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, JsonAPI seems to be a lot more popular than PostGraphile. While we know about 52 links to JsonAPI, we've tracked only 1 mention of PostGraphile. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

PostGraphile mentions (1)

  • [Question] What will it take to create an automated graphQL API with Elixir?
    There are tools like Hasura/Haskell, Postgraphile/Node.js or Graphjin/Golang that could generate an automatic graphQL API from a Postgres database. Im new to Elixir and really love it. I wonder if there is anything similar these. I heard about Absinthe for graphQL, however as far as I understand it requires to write your own resolvers. What will it take to create a similar tool in Elixir like the one stated above?... Source: almost 4 years ago

JsonAPI mentions (52)

  • GraphQL vs REST: 18 Claims Fact-Checked with Primary Sources (2026)
    REST does not define a standard batching mechanism at the protocol level. When batching is needed, it is handled through API design (such as bulk endpoints), infrastructure, or framework-specific solutions. Some specifications attempt to address this, such as OData’s batch format or JSON:API’s compound documents, but adoption is inconsistent. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Show HN: Aura – Like robots.txt, but for AI actions
    Why reinvent the wheel poorly when you have a hundred of solutions like https://jsonapi.org/? - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Build Real-Time Knowledge Graph for Documents with LLM
    For context, the subject-predicate-object pattern is known as a semantic triple or Resource Description Framework (RDF) triple: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_triple They're useful for storing social network graph data, for example, and can be expressed using standards like Open Graph and JSONAPI: https://ogp.me https://jsonapi.org I've stored RDF triples in database tables and experimented with query... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • OSF API: The Complete Guide
    Built on JSON API standards, the OSF API is intuitive for anyone familiar with REST conventions. Once you learn its core patterns, you can quickly expand into project creation, user collaboration, and more—without constantly referencing documentation. The official OSF API docs provide everything needed to get started. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Common Mistakes in RESTful API Design
    Following established patterns reduces the learning curve for your API. Adopt conventions from JSON:API or Microsoft API Guidelines to provide consistent experiences. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing PostGraphile and JsonAPI, you can also consider the following products

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

GraphQL - GraphQL is a data query language and runtime to request and deliver data to mobile and web apps.

graphql.js - A reference implementation of GraphQL for JavaScript - graphql/graphql-js

Oracle PL/SQL - PL/SQL is Oracle's procedural extension to industry-standard SQL.

Apollo - Apollo is a full project management and contact tracking application.

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