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Apollo-server vs Mercurius

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

Mercurius

215.8 KB gzipped

Most Popular

Apollo-server

218.9K weekly downloads

Best Maintained

Mercurius

100/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

Apollo-server

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Mercurius

Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality

Version 3.13.0

0
57
Fair

Production ready GraphQL Server

Weekly Downloads
218.9K
3%
Bundle (gzip)
356.3 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
20
Popularity
80
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70
mercurius icon

mercurius

Popular

Version 16.9.0

0
81
Excellent

Fastify GraphQL adapter with subscription support

Weekly Downloads
143.8K
25%
Bundle (gzip)
215.8 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
80
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Apollo-server and Mercurius? 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

Apollo-server leads with 218.9K weekly downloads — roughly 1.5x more. Mercurius has 143.8K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Mercurius has the smallest gzipped bundle at 215.8 KB. Apollo-server comes in at 356.3 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Mercurius has an overall health score of 81/100 (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 Mercurius if you value actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Apollo-server and Mercurius are solid choices for JavaScript development. Mercurius has the edge in overall health score (81/100), 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 mercurius?
It depends on your needs. Apollo-server has a health score of 57/100 while Mercurius scores 81/100. Apollo-server has more weekly downloads (218.9K), 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 mercurius?
Mercurius has the smaller gzipped bundle at 215.8 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 mercurius?
Based on npm download statistics, Apollo-server has approximately 218.9K weekly downloads and Mercurius has approximately 143.8K weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, apollo-server or mercurius?
Mercurius currently has the higher overall health score at 81/100. Apollo-server has a maintenance score of 20/100 and Mercurius scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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