Apollo-client vs Relay-runtime

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Version 2.6.10

57
Fair

A simple yet functional GraphQL client.

Weekly Downloads
457.9K
34%
Bundle (gzip)
338.2 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
20
Popularity
80
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

relay-runtime

Very Popular

Version 20.1.1

85
Excellent

A core runtime for building GraphQL-driven applications.

Weekly Downloads
5.9M
35%
Bundle (gzip)
378.9 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Apollo-client and Relay-runtime? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

Relay-runtime leads with 5.9M weekly downloads — roughly 12.8x more. Apollo-client has 457.9K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Apollo-client has the smallest gzipped bundle at 338.2 KB. Relay-runtime comes in at 378.9 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Relay-runtime has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Apollo-client has an overall health score of 57/100 (moderate), with strong security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Apollo-client if you value strong security track record. Choose Relay-runtime if you value large community support, actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Apollo-client and Relay-runtime are solid choices for JavaScript development. Relay-runtime has the edge in overall health score (85/100), while each package brings unique strengths to the table. Evaluate them based on your project's priorities — whether that's community size, bundle efficiency, or maintenance activity — and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is apollo-client better than relay-runtime?
It depends on your needs. Apollo-client has a health score of 57/100 while Relay-runtime scores 85/100. Relay-runtime has more weekly downloads (5.9M), suggesting broader adoption. Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, apollo-client or relay-runtime?
Apollo-client has the smaller gzipped bundle at 338.2 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use apollo-client vs relay-runtime?
Based on npm download statistics, Apollo-client has approximately 457.9K weekly downloads and Relay-runtime has approximately 5.9M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, apollo-client or relay-runtime?
Relay-runtime currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Apollo-client has a maintenance score of 20/100 and Relay-runtime scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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