@tanstack/react-query vs apollo-client
Side-by-side comparison of @tanstack/react-query and apollo-client
- Weekly Downloads
- 16.9M
- Stars
- 48.4K
- Gzip Size
- 16.9 kB
- License
- MIT
- Last Updated
- 5d ago
- Open Issues
- 154
- Forks
- 3.7K
- Unpacked Size
- 736.3 kB
- Dependencies
- 3
- Weekly Downloads
- 437.1K
- Stars
- 19.7K
- Gzip Size
- 21.0 kB
- License
- MIT
- Last Updated
- 19h ago
- Open Issues
- 430
- Forks
- 2.7K
- Unpacked Size
- 1.2 MB
- Dependencies
- 10
Download Trends
Verdict
@tanstack/react-query excels in managing, caching, and synchronizing asynchronous data in React applications, making it highly suitable for developers working with REST and GraphQL APIs. In contrast, apollo-client focuses specifically on GraphQL clients, providing a streamlined experience for teams that primarily interact with GraphQL backends.
When choosing between the two, consider the type of data fetching in your application. If your project includes a mixture of REST and GraphQL or requires advanced caching strategies, @tanstack/react-query may be the better choice. However, if your application solely relies on GraphQL and you prefer a more specialized tool, apollo-client would be the appropriate option.
Migration from one to the other entails different learning curves and potential restructuring of data fetching practices. Developers should weigh the existing architecture and team familiarity with either REST or GraphQL when making a decision to transition to @tanstack/react-query or apollo-client.
Detailed Comparison
| Criteria | @tanstack/react-query | apollo-client |
|---|---|---|
| Use Cases | Versatile for diverse data fetching patterns. | ✓Ideal solely for GraphQL scenarios. |
| Open Issues | ✓A manageable 152 open issues. | Higher at 430, indicating possible maintenance concerns. |
| GitHub Forks | ✓More forks at 3.7K, indicating extensive community contributions. | Fewer forks at 2.7K. |
| GitHub Stars | ✓Strong community endorsement with 48.4K stars. | Moderate interest with 19.7K stars. |
| Last Updated | Updated recently on 2026-02-02. | Updated shortly after on 2026-02-07. |
| Unpacked Size | ✓More lightweight at 736.3 kB. | Larger unpacked size at 1.2 MB. |
| Learning Curve | ✓Designed for ease of use with hooks in React. | Requires understanding of GraphQL concepts. |
| Overall Purpose | ✓Best for REST and GraphQL data management in React. | Designed specifically for GraphQL client needs. |
| Weekly Downloads | ✓High popularity with 16.9 million downloads. | Considerably lower at 465.7K weekly downloads. |
| Bundle Size (Gzip) | ✓Smaller bundle size at 16.9 kB. | Slightly larger at 21.0 kB. |
| TypeScript Support | Comprehensively supports TypeScript. | Also supports TypeScript, but associated with GraphQL usage. |