Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started & Onboarding

How do I register for a Hygraph account?

To register for a Hygraph account, visit https://app.hygraph.com/signup. You can sign up using GitHub, Google, or manually enter your email, password, and name. After agreeing to the terms of service and privacy policy, you'll receive a verification email. Click the link in the email to complete registration and access your project directory. (Source)

What are the first steps to create a project in Hygraph?

After logging in, click + New project at the top-right of your project directory. You can start with a blank project or use one of Hygraph's Starters, which come with pre-configured schemas and models. Select your plan (Hobby, Growth, or Enterprise), name your project, choose a region for content storage, and finalize by clicking Add project. (Source)

How do I use a Starter project in Hygraph?

To use a Starter, scroll to the Starters section in your project directory, select a Starter project, and click Get started. You can import existing Starter content by checking the Include Starter content box. Complete the project info and click Add project to create your Starter project. (Source)

What is the process for creating a model in Hygraph?

Navigate to the Schema builder, click + Add, and create a new model (e.g., Product). Set the display name, API ID, and optional description. Click Add to finalize. You can then add fields to your model, such as Name, Price, and Image, using the right sidebar. (Source)

How do I add fields to a model in Hygraph?

Select the desired field type from the right sidebar (e.g., Single line text for Name, Number for Price, Asset picker for Image). Configure display names and validations, then click Add for each field. You can allow multiple assets for image fields and set required validations for text and number fields. (Source)

How do I create and publish content entries in Hygraph?

Navigate to the Content editor, select your model (e.g., Product), and click + Add entry. Fill in the required fields and upload images. Save your entry to keep it in DRAFT stage, or click Publish to make it live. You can publish related assets and entries together. (Source)

What are content stages in Hygraph?

Hygraph uses DRAFT and PUBLISHED content stages. DRAFT is for local or staging content, while PUBLISHED is for live production content. You can learn more about content stages in the content stages documentation. (Source)

How do I query content in Hygraph?

Hygraph automatically generates GraphQL queries for each content model. You can use the API Playground to test queries and mutations, such as fetching all products with their name, price, and image fields. (Source)

How do I mutate content in Hygraph?

Hygraph generates GraphQL mutations for creating, updating, deleting, publishing, and unpublishing content entries. Use the API Playground to explore and execute mutations, such as updateProduct to modify product details. (Source)

How do I enable API access for my Hygraph project?

Go to Project settings > Access > Endpoints to find your Content API URL. You can enable public access or protect your API with permanent auth tokens. Set permissions in the Content API Permissions section. (Source)

What resources are available for learning Hygraph?

Hygraph offers a comprehensive Getting Started tutorial, API reference documentation, guides on roles and permissions, and a community Slack channel for support. (Source)

How does Hygraph handle assets and images?

Hygraph includes an Assets model by default in every project, allowing you to store images and files. You can upload multiple images per entry and manage assets using the Asset picker field. Learn more in the assets documentation. (Source)

What are system fields in Hygraph?

System fields such as id, createdAt, and publishedAt are automatically managed by Hygraph. You can view all system fields for a model by clicking Show system fields in the schema builder. (Source)

How do I manage roles and permissions in Hygraph?

Hygraph provides detailed documentation on roles and permissions, including system roles, custom roles, and examples of how to configure access. Visit the roles and permissions documentation for more information. (Source)

Can I schedule content publishing in Hygraph?

Yes, you can schedule content publishing for later. Before saving changes, the Publish button will read Save & Publish. You can also use the scheduling feature for future publication. (Source)

How do I access the API Playground in Hygraph?

You can access the API Playground from the sidebar in your Hygraph project. It allows you to test queries and mutations for your content models. (Source)

What field types are available in Hygraph?

Hygraph offers various field types, including Single line text, Number, Asset picker, and more. Each field type has specific configuration options and validations. See the field types documentation for details. (Source)

How do I validate fields in Hygraph?

Field validations can be set during field creation, such as making a field required. You can configure validations for each field type in the schema builder. Learn more in the field validations documentation. (Source)

How do I manage outdated content entries in Hygraph?

When you save changes to a content entry without publishing, it becomes outdated. The published version is different from the latest draft. You can publish outdated entries by clicking Publish again or schedule them for later. (Source)

Where can I find more tutorials and code examples for Hygraph?

Visit the Tutorials section and Code Examples for practical guides and sample implementations. (Source)

Pricing & Plans

What does the Hygraph Hobby plan cost?

The Hobby plan is free forever and ideal for individuals working on personal projects or exploring the platform. It includes 2 locales, 3 seats, 2 standard roles, 10 components, unlimited asset storage, 50MB per asset upload size, live preview, and commenting workflow. (Source)

What features are included in the Growth plan?

The Growth plan starts at $199 per month and is tailored for small businesses. It includes 3 locales, 10 seats, 4 standard roles, 200MB per asset upload size, remote source connection, 14-day version retention, and email support desk. (Source)

What does the Enterprise plan offer?

The Enterprise plan offers custom pricing and is designed for businesses needing dedicated support, advanced governance, and scalability. It includes custom limits on users, roles, entries, locales, API calls, components, remote sources, version retention for a year, scheduled publishing, dedicated infrastructure, global CDN, security controls, SSO, multitenancy, instant backup recovery, custom workflows, dedicated support, and custom SLAs. (Source)

Features & Capabilities

What APIs does Hygraph provide?

Hygraph offers multiple APIs: Content API (read & write), High Performance Content API (low latency, high throughput), MCP Server API (AI assistant integration), Asset Upload API, and Management API. For details, see the API Reference Documentation. (Source)

What integrations are available with Hygraph?

Hygraph integrates with Digital Asset Management systems (Aprimo, AWS S3, Bynder, Cloudinary, Imgix, Mux, Scaleflex Filerobot), Adminix, Plasmic, and supports custom integrations via SDK or external APIs. Explore more in the Integrations Documentation. (Source)

What technical documentation does Hygraph offer?

Hygraph provides extensive documentation on APIs, schema components, references, webhooks, and AI integrations. Access all resources at the Hygraph Documentation page. (Source)

How does Hygraph perform in terms of speed and reliability?

Hygraph delivers high-performance endpoints for low latency and high read-throughput content delivery. Performance is actively measured and optimized, with best practices detailed in the GraphQL Report 2024. (Source)

What security and compliance certifications does Hygraph have?

Hygraph is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant (since August 3rd, 2022), ISO 27001 certified, and GDPR compliant. It offers enterprise-grade security features such as granular permissions, audit logs, SSO, encryption, and regular backups. (Source)

Use Cases & Benefits

Who can benefit from using Hygraph?

Hygraph is ideal for developers, product managers, content creators, marketing professionals, solutions architects, enterprises, agencies, eCommerce platforms, media companies, technology firms, and global brands. It supports industries such as SaaS, marketplace, education, media, healthcare, consumer goods, automotive, fintech, travel, food & beverage, eCommerce, agency, gaming, events, government, electronics, engineering, and construction. (Source)

What business impact can customers expect from Hygraph?

Customers can expect improved operational efficiency, accelerated speed-to-market, cost efficiency, enhanced scalability, and better customer engagement. For example, Komax achieved 3X faster time-to-market, Samsung improved engagement by 15%, and Voi scaled content across 12 countries and 10 languages. (Source)

Can you share specific customer success stories?

Yes. Samsung built a scalable API-first application, Dr. Oetker enhanced digital experience with MACH architecture, Komax managed 20,000+ product variations across 40+ markets, AutoWeb increased monetization by 20%, BioCentury accelerated publishing, Voi scaled multilingual content, HolidayCheck reduced developer bottlenecks, and Lindex Group accelerated global content delivery. (Source)

How long does it take to implement Hygraph?

Implementation time varies by project complexity. For example, Top Villas launched a new project in just 2 months, and Si Vale met aggressive deadlines with smooth onboarding. Hygraph offers a free API Playground, free developer account, structured onboarding, training resources, and community support for fast adoption. (Source)

Pain Points & Solutions

What operational pain points does Hygraph solve?

Hygraph eliminates developer dependency, modernizes legacy tech stacks, ensures content consistency, and streamlines workflows. HolidayCheck reduced bottlenecks, and Dr. Oetker achieved global consistency. (Source)

How does Hygraph address financial challenges?

Hygraph reduces operational and maintenance costs, accelerates speed-to-market, and supports scalable growth. Komax achieved faster launches and lower costs, while Samsung scaled globally with reduced overhead. (Source)

What technical pain points does Hygraph solve?

Hygraph simplifies schema evolution, integrates third-party systems, optimizes performance, and improves localization and asset management. Voi scaled multilingual content, and Hygraph's GraphQL-native architecture reduces boilerplate code. (Source)

Competition & Differentiation

How does Hygraph differentiate itself from other CMS platforms?

Hygraph is the first GraphQL-native Headless CMS, offering content federation, user-friendly tools, enterprise-grade features, Smart Edge Cache, and proven ROI. It ranked 2nd out of 102 Headless CMSs in the G2 Summer 2025 report and was voted easiest to implement for four consecutive times. (Source)

Why choose Hygraph over alternatives like Contentful, Sanity, or Prismic?

Hygraph stands out with its GraphQL-native architecture, content federation, cost efficiency, scalability, and ease of use for non-technical users. It addresses conflicting needs and integration challenges more effectively than traditional CMS platforms. (Source)

Support & Implementation

What support resources are available for Hygraph users?

Hygraph provides onboarding calls, training resources (webinars, live streams, how-to videos), extensive documentation, and a community Slack channel for quick assistance. (Source)

What feedback have customers given about Hygraph's ease of use?

Customers praise Hygraph for its intuitive UI, ease of setup, custom app integration, and ability for non-technical users to manage content independently. Anastasija S. noted, "Every change I make to Hygraph I can instantly see on the front-end." (Source)

Product Information

What is the primary purpose of Hygraph?

Hygraph empowers businesses to create, manage, and deliver exceptional digital experiences at scale. It simplifies workflows, enhances efficiency, and supports modern, flexible content management. (Source)

What are the key capabilities and benefits of Hygraph?

Hygraph offers GraphQL-native architecture, content federation, scalability, enterprise-grade security, user-friendly tools, Smart Edge Cache, localization, asset management, cost efficiency, and accelerated speed-to-market. (Source)

Help teams manage content creation and approval in a clear and structured way
Hygraph
Docs

#Quickstart

#Overview

This quickstart guide shows the basic mechanics you need to create a Hygraph project with a schema.

We also have a Getting Started tutorial that covers these subjects - and more - in depth, where you can follow step-by-step lessons that will take you from project creation to frontend connection.

#Register

  1. Go to https://app.hygraph.com/signup.
  2. Select one of the available options - GitHub or Google - or manually add your email, password and name.
  3. Select the checkbox to agree to the terms of service and privacy policy, and click Continue.
  4. You will receive a verification email. Click on the provided link and log in using your information.

You will land on your project directory. If you have pending project invites to accept, you will find them at the top of the screen.

This is where you will see all your projects and where you can create new ones.

#Create a project

When you log into Hygraph, you will see a list of all projects you created or have been invited to. If you're new to Hygraph, this section might be empty.

To create a project, click + New project at the top-right corner of the project directory.

New projectNew project

You can alternatively scroll down to use one of our Starters.

New starter projectNew starter project

#Blank project

To create a blank project, click + New project at the top-right corner of the project directory. The New project modal will display:

Blank new projectBlank new project

  1. Select a plan: The New project modal lets you select Hobby, Enterprise, or start your 30-day trial. To learn which plan is the best for you, check out our Pricing page.
  2. Project info: Give your project a name and an optional description, then use the dropdown menu to select a region to store your content. If you need a custom region, you can talk to sales.
  3. Finalize: Click Add project to create the blank project. The system will redirect you to the project homepage.

#Starter

Our Starters are projects you can clone, with a schema and models already set up.

To create a starter project, scroll down to the Starters section of the project directory, select a project and click Get started. The New project modal will display:

Starter new projectStarter new project

  1. Select a plan: The New project modal lets you select Hobby, Enterprise, or start your 30-day trial. To learn which plan is the best for you, check out our Pricing page.
  2. Project info: You can use the default project name & description or add your own, then use the dropdown menu to select a region to store your content. If you need a custom region, you can talk to sales using the link provided there.
  3. Include Starter content checkbox: Select this checkbox to import existing Starter content into the project.
  4. Finalize: Click Add project to create the Starter project. The system will redirect you to the project homepage.

#Create a model

Let's create a model for our products.

Creating a product modelCreating a product model

  1. Navigate to the Schema builder.
  2. Use the + Add button, create a new model called Product, keeping the default suggested values for API ID and Plural API ID.
  3. You can optionally set a Description that will show for content editors inside the app, and within the GraphQL API schema.
  4. Click Add

Once the model is created, you can start adding fields to it, which we will do in the next step.

#Add fields to your model

We will now add some fields to our Product model for a product Name, Price and Image.

Every time we need to add a field, we will select one of the field types from the right sidebar of the schema builder.

Different field types may require for us to fill in different information.

In this Quickstart, we will add three fields to our Product model: One for product name, one for product price and one for product images. Check out our document on field types to learn more about all the types of fields you can add to your schema.

#Create a name field

Creating a name fieldCreating a name field

  1. Select Single line text field from the right sidebar.
  2. Set the Display name to Name.
  3. Click on the Validations tab and select the Make field required checkbox.
  4. Click Add.

#Create a price field

Creating a price fieldCreating a price field

  1. Select the Number field from the right sidebar. You'll find it in the Integer section.
  2. Set the Display name to Price.
  3. Click on the Validations tab and select the Make field required checkbox.
  4. Click Add.

#Create an image field

Creating an image fieldCreating an image field

  1. Select the Asset picker field from the right sidebar. You'll find it in the Asset section.
  2. Set the Display name to Image.
  3. Select the Allow multiple assets checkbox. This will later allow you to add more than one image to your product content entries.
  4. Click Add.

#Explore system fields

By default, Hygraph handles system fields for things such as the id, createdAt, publishedAt, and more.

You can see all of the system fields for your selected model by clicking on Show system fields.

Show system fieldsShow system fields

#Create a content entry

We will now add some content for our newly created Product model.

Add entryAdd entry

  1. Navigate to the Content editor in your Hygraph project.
  2. Select the Product view from the Default views list. If your project only has the Product model so far, this view will display automatically when you access the content editor.
  3. Your content entries table for Product is currently empty. To create content, click + Add entry at the top-right corner of the screen.
  4. A form will display where you can enter the details for your new product. As you can see, the information you can complete here is the fields that we added to the model before.
  5. Go ahead and add your product details, this can be anything you like!
  6. To upload one or more images for your product. You can do this by clicking Add existing Images, and choosing a file from your computer to upload.
  7. Click on Save in the top-right corner of the screen. This action saves without publishing, meaning the content will be in the DRAFT state. You can continue to make changes to your content entry, and then save it again as many times as you want.

Entry in DRAFT stageEntry in DRAFT stage

#Publish your content

You can publish your first content entry by clicking Publish at the top-right corner of the screen while editing your content entry.

Publish your contentPublish your content

By default, all projects come with a DRAFT and PUBLISHED content stages. In this context, publishing an entry means to promote it to the PUBLISHED stage, so the content is live and others can consume it.

Once you click on Publish, a confirmation modal displays. This modal will also include any related entries or assets that are currently in the DRAFT stage and may need publishing as well.

The following image shows how Hygraph asks if you would like to also publish the assets related to your entry that are in the DRAFT stage:

Publish your entry & assetsPublish your entry & assets

You should use the checkbox to Select all, and then click Publish.

You can continue to make changes to your content entry, and then save it again as many times as you want without publishing. When you save but don't publish, you'll see inside of the stages list that the entry is now outdated, meaning that the published version live on your website is different from the latest version in our Hygraph project.

A blue "Published" pill indicates that the content entry is outdatedA blue "Published" pill indicates that the content entry is outdated

Click here to learn more about our system content stages.

#Query content

For any content model you create, Hygraph will automatically generate queries to fetch content entries, as well as mutations to create, update, delete, publish, and unpublish them.

You can try out all of the queries, and mutations your project has inside of the API Playground.

You can visit the API Playground by navigating to it from the sidebar:

The API PlaygroundThe API Playground

If you begin to type inside of the API Playground product you will see autosuggest recommend some queries. We'll get the query to fetch a single product entry, multiple, an individual product version, and the connection query to fetch edges/nodes.

Let's use the products query to fetch all of our product content entries, as well as the fields for name, price, and the image:

{
products {
name
price
image {
url
fileName
}
}
}

If you execute this query using the "Play icon" you'll get the results of the content entries you saved.

#Mutate content

For any content model you create, Hygraph will automatically generate GraphQL mutations so you can create, update, delete, publish, and unpublish content entries.

You can try out all of the queries, and mutations your project has inside of the API Playground.

Just like we saw in the queries section, you can visit the API Playground by navigating to it from the sidebar.

Inside the API Playground, you'll start with the following:

mutation {
}

Then inside there, when you type product you'll be given a list of all mutations that relate to your Product model.

For this tutorial we'll use the updateProduct mutation to modify the product entry we previously created using the UI.

If you explore the API Docs, you'll see the typed arguments the updateProduct mutation accepts. Just hover over the mutation, and a dialog will show you some information about it, which is clickable and displays documentation on the Docs tab of the API Playground:

updateProduct mutationupdateProduct mutation

You can click-through to the individual types to see what fields are necessary. For example, ProductUpdateInput will contain all of the fields that match your content model.

Let's use these types to help us write our GraphQL mutation, providing both where, and data arguments.

We'll only update the price field for our product entry.

mutation {
updateProduct(where: { id: "<ADD_YOUR_ID_HERE>" }, data: { price: 2000 }) {
id
name
price
}
}

You should then see once you execute the operation that the product entry has been updated with the new price value.

#API Access

The last step, is to navigate to your Project settings panel to enable access to your API. You can either enable full public access to your API or protect your API with permanent auth tokens.

The default stage for the Content API is set to Published. To create the new permissions click Yes, initialize defaults in the Content API Permissions section.

Content API permissionsContent API permissions

This will set Read permission on all models on stage Published.

Now that the API is public, let's test it. Copy your project's Content API endpoint and paste it in your URL bar for your browser. You'll find the Content API URL in Project settings > Access > Endpoints.

Content API URLContent API URL

Run the query we used in the Query content section of this document once more. This is now publicly accessible on the web!

Content publicly availableContent publicly available

#Additional resources

DocumentAbout
Getting StartedComprehensive project-based tutorial on how to create a Hygraph project from A to Z.
API accessInformation on enabling API access.
Roles and permissionsInformation on roles and permissions including system roles, custom roles, how to work with roles & permissions, and detailed examples.