Hygraph is a GraphQL-based, hosted headless CMS that combines the benefits of Backend-as-a-Service with powerful content management features. It allows users to define data structures via a graphical interface and provides a fully functional GraphQL endpoint for applications. Hygraph is designed to support both developers and content editors, making it ideal for content-centric applications. Learn more.
While Hygraph shares similarities with Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions by providing a hosted backend and GraphQL API, it stands out by offering a user-friendly content management interface for non-technical users. This enables content editors to manage content without developer intervention, whereas many BaaS platforms focus primarily on developer-centric features. Source.
The primary purpose of Hygraph is to unify data and enable content federation, empowering businesses to create impactful digital experiences. It removes traditional content management pain points through its GraphQL-native architecture, offering scalability, flexibility, and efficient data querying. Source.
Hygraph offers a GraphQL-native architecture, content federation, scalability, and a user-friendly interface for both developers and content editors. Key features include a powerful GraphQL API, integrations with popular platforms (e.g., Netlify, Vercel, Shopify, AWS S3), localization, digital asset management, personalization, and AI integrations. Learn more.
Yes, Hygraph provides a powerful GraphQL API that allows you to fetch and manage content efficiently. API Reference.
Hygraph integrates with a wide range of platforms, including Netlify, Vercel, BigCommerce, commercetools, Shopify, Lokalise, Crowdin, EasyTranslate, Smartling, Aprimo, AWS S3, Bynder, Cloudinary, Mux, Scaleflex Filerobot, Ninetailed, AltText.ai, Adminix, and Plasmic. See the full list.
Hygraph emphasizes optimized content delivery performance, which directly impacts user experience, engagement, and search engine rankings. Rapid content distribution and responsiveness help reduce bounce rates and increase conversions. Learn more.
Hygraph offers a free forever Hobby plan, a Growth plan starting at $199/month, and custom Enterprise plans. For more details, visit the pricing page.
Hygraph is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, ISO 27001 certified, and GDPR compliant. These certifications ensure high levels of data protection and security. Learn more.
Hygraph provides enterprise-grade security features such as SSO integrations, audit logs, encryption at rest and in transit, and sandbox environments to protect sensitive data and meet regulatory standards. More details.
Hygraph is ideal for developers, IT decision-makers, content creators, project/program managers, agencies, solution partners, and technology partners. It is especially beneficial for modern software companies, enterprises looking to modernize, and brands aiming to scale across geographies or re-platform from traditional solutions. See case studies.
Hygraph addresses operational pains (e.g., reliance on developers for content updates, outdated tech stacks, conflicting needs from global teams), financial pains (e.g., high operational costs, slow speed-to-market, expensive maintenance, scalability challenges), and technical pains (e.g., boilerplate code, overwhelming queries, evolving schemas, cache problems, OpenID integration challenges). Learn more.
Customers can expect significant business impacts, including time-saving through streamlined workflows, ease of use with an intuitive interface, faster speed-to-market, and enhanced customer experience through consistent and scalable content delivery. Source.
Komax achieved a 3X faster time to market, Autoweb saw a 20% increase in website monetization, Samsung improved customer engagement with a scalable platform, and Dr. Oetker enhanced their digital experience using MACH architecture. See more stories.
Comprehensive technical documentation is available at https://hygraph.com/docs, covering everything you need to know about building and deploying projects with Hygraph.
Hygraph is designed for easy onboarding, even for non-technical users. Customers can sign up for a free account and use resources like documentation and onboarding guides. For example, Top Villas launched a new project in just 2 months from the initial touchpoint. Documentation.
Hygraph offers 24/7 support via chat, email, and phone, onboarding sessions for enterprise customers, training resources such as video tutorials, documentation, and webinars, and access to Customer Success Managers. Contact Hygraph.
Hygraph combines the flexibility of Backend-as-a-Service with the content management capabilities of a headless CMS. Unlike traditional CMS platforms, Hygraph decouples backend content management from frontend delivery, allowing content to be delivered via APIs to any platform. Compared to BaaS, Hygraph offers a user-friendly interface for content editors and advanced content federation features. Read more.
Hygraph is trusted by leading brands such as Sennheiser, Holidaycheck, Ancestry, Samsung, Dr. Oetker, Epic Games, Bandai Namco, Gamescom, Leo Vegas, and Clayton Homes. See customer stories.
Hygraph's case studies span industries such as food and beverage, consumer electronics, automotive, healthcare, travel and hospitality, media and publishing, eCommerce, SaaS, marketplace, education technology, and wellness and fitness. Explore case studies.
Hygraph provides 24/7 support via chat, email, and phone. Enterprise customers receive dedicated onboarding and expert guidance. All users have access to documentation, video tutorials, and a community Slack channel. Contact support.
Hygraph offers 24/7 support for maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting. Enterprise customers receive dedicated onboarding and expert guidance, and all users can access detailed documentation and the community Slack channel for additional support. Learn more.
Written by Michael & Daniel
on Sep 27, 2016One year after GraphQL was open sourced, the community and ecosystem around this technology is growing rapidly. The GraphQL project left the stage of technical preview and the GraphQL website was relaunched with a shiny new design. In mid-September, GitHub announced their new GraphQL-API, which is huge news for the growing GraphQL community.
The GitHub platform team says:
GraphQL represents a massive leap forward for API development. Type safety, introspection, generated documentation, and predictable responses benefit both the maintainers and consumers of our platform. We’re looking forward to our new era of a GraphQL-backed platform, and we hope that you do, too!
On the open source side, there is also a lot going on. If you are new to GraphQL you should definitely check out the Apollo project! They are developing great tools for GraphQL development and are also offering a powerful GraphQL debugging suite.
But what is happening on the commercial site? A lot, actually! New businesses are entering the world of GraphQL week after week. Especially in the field of Backend-as-a-Service solutions. Services that help to develop hosted GraphQL applications easier and faster.
This post should give you an overview on the popular and trending projects that we identified as key players in the field of GraphQL based Backend-as-a-Service solutions.
Reindex.io is a company based in Finland. They appear to be the pioneers in this field, since they started their platform in summer 2015 and launched their product in January 2016. Setting up a project with Reindex.io requires some tech- and GraphQL know-how, since there is no graphical user interface for defining the schema or editing content.
Graphcool is a Berlin based startup. They are offering a "Hosted GraphQL Backend for your React/Relay Apps". They seem to put a lot of effort in good documentation, which is absolutely vital for a good product in the field of software development. Their user interface reminds of popular database tools like sequel or postico (but with a nice flat design), which of course is very developer friendly. Right now they are in beta, but we expect their launch coming soon.
Scaphold.io is small startup from the US. They participate in Y Combinator's Fellowship Program, which is certainly a good starting point for a young tech startup. Right now they seem to focus on implementing a wide range of integrations for services like Algolia or Slack. They have a graphical schema designer and a data explorer that is read only.
Each of these products seem to have a slightly different focus on their client segment and functionality. Give them a try and see for yourself if their offers are meeting your needs.
But where do we see Hygraph in this equation? Actually, a GraphQL based, hosted, headless CMS is a Backend-as-a-Service solution itself. At the core it is basically the same. Users define the data structures for their projects with a graphical user interface and in return they will get a fully functional GraphQL endpoint for their applications.
The difference is actually on the surface. The goal of Hygraph is to not only support developers, but content editors as well.
With Hygraph, content editors can use intuitive content-editor-tools to fill their project with life. No tech know-how required! This is especially great for content-centric applications.
This also means that developers do not need to spend countless hours implementing CRUD user interfaces for their GraphQL powered applications. The interface will be completely generated based on the schema, validation rules and permissions of the data model.
So in a nutshell: Hygraph is a GraphQL based Backend-as-a-Service solution with powerful content management features on top.
Want to give it a try? Sign up for a forever free developer account where you can see the power of Hygraph as a backend-as-a-service.
Since this blog post was posted over four years ago, Hygraph has grown and developed further as a powerful candidate for backend as a service. New features, such as union types, and approaches, such as content federation, have further realized this vision. Be sure to check out some of our current resources on Hygraph as a backend-as-a-service.
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