At a glance

Hasura EdgeDB
Best for Developers wanting instant GraphQL APIs on their database Developers wanting a modern relational database with better DX
Starting price Free Free
Free tier
Open source
Free tier available
Open source
Auth
Built-In Auth
EdgeQL
GraphQL
Migrations
Real-Time
Remote Schemas
Schema-First

Hasura

Strengths

  • Open source and transparent
  • Includes GraphQL as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
  • Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
  • Free for 1 project — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done

Weaknesses

  • Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
  • Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
  • Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in database
  • Community support can be slower than the dedicated support teams at commercial alternatives

EdgeDB

Strengths

  • Open source and transparent
  • Includes EdgeQL as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
  • Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
  • Free 1 GB — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done

Weaknesses

  • Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
  • Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
  • Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in database
  • Community support can be slower than the dedicated support teams at commercial alternatives

The bottom line

Pricing: Both tools offer free tiers, so you can test each before committing. Hasura's free plan: Free for 1 project. EdgeDB's free plan: Free 1 GB.

Feature gaps: Hasura offers Auth, GraphQL and Real-Time that EdgeDB lacks. EdgeDB brings Built-In Auth, EdgeQL and Migrations that Hasura does not have.

Team fit: Both tools target small teams teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.

Open source: Both Hasura and EdgeDB are open source, so self-hosting and code audits are on the table with either choice.

Where each tool shines: Hasura's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. includes graphql as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows. EdgeDB's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. includes edgeql as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows.

Watch out for: With Hasura, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With EdgeDB, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.

Choose Hasura if...

  • Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting instant graphql apis on their database
  • You specifically need Auth and GraphQL
  • You care about includes graphql as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
  • The free tier works for you: free for 1 project

Choose EdgeDB if...

  • Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting a modern relational database with better dx
  • You specifically need Built-In Auth and EdgeQL
  • You care about includes edgeql as a core feature, purpose-built for database workflows
  • The free tier works for you: free 1 gb

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