Apollo-server vs Graphql-yoga

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

apollo-server

Popular

Version 3.13.0

57
Fair

Production ready GraphQL Server

Weekly Downloads
182.2K
Bundle (gzip)
7.8 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
20
Popularity
80
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

graphql-yoga

Popular

Version 5.18.0

83
Excellent

<div align="center"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/graphql-hive/graphql-yoga/refs/heads/main/website/public/cover.png" width="720" /></div>

Weekly Downloads
908.4K
↑37%
Bundle (gzip)
85.9 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
90
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Apollo-server and Graphql-yoga? 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

Graphql-yoga leads with 908.4K weekly downloads — roughly 5.0x more. Apollo-server has 182.2K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Apollo-server has the smallest gzipped bundle at 7.8 KB. Graphql-yoga comes in at 85.9 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Graphql-yoga has an overall health score of 83/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Apollo-server 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-server if you value strong security track record. Choose Graphql-yoga if you value actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Apollo-server and Graphql-yoga are solid choices for JavaScript development. Graphql-yoga has the edge in overall health score (83/100), 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-server better than graphql-yoga?
It depends on your needs. Apollo-server has a health score of 57/100 while Graphql-yoga scores 83/100. Graphql-yoga has more weekly downloads (908.4K), 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-server or graphql-yoga?
Apollo-server has the smaller gzipped bundle at 7.8 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use apollo-server vs graphql-yoga?
Based on npm download statistics, Apollo-server has approximately 182.2K weekly downloads and Graphql-yoga has approximately 908.4K weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, apollo-server or graphql-yoga?
Graphql-yoga currently has the higher overall health score at 83/100. Apollo-server has a maintenance score of 20/100 and Graphql-yoga scores 100/100 on maintenance.