@tanstack/react-query (formerly React Query) is a protocol-agnostic data-fetching and state management library that works with any async data source—REST APIs, GraphQL, or custom Promise-based functions. Apollo Client is a comprehensive GraphQL client with integrated caching, state management, and GraphQL-specific optimizations built directly into its architecture. Both libraries solve the problem of managing server state in React applications, but they take fundamentally different philosophical approaches.
This comparison matters because choosing the wrong tool can significantly impact your development velocity and application architecture. Developers working with GraphQL-only backends may benefit from Apollo's opinionated, integrated approach, while teams working with mixed APIs or REST endpoints will find TanStack Query's flexibility more practical. The choice affects not just your data layer, but also your caching strategy, bundle size, and how much GraphQL-specific infrastructure you need to maintain.
Choose @tanstack/react-query if you value simplicity, flexibility, or work with anything other than pure GraphQL backends. Its protocol-agnostic design means you can use it with REST APIs, GraphQL, or a mix of both without architectural compromises. The simpler API, superior DevTools, and more predictable caching make it the better choice for most modern React applications, especially those not deeply committed to GraphQL. Teams migrating from Apollo consistently report improved developer experience and easier-to-maintain code.
Choose apollo-client only if you're building a GraphQL-first application and need its specialized features like fragments, subscriptions, and normalized caching based on schema types. If your backend is exclusively GraphQL and you want the most integrated, opinionated solution with automatic cache normalization, Apollo's trade-offs become worthwhile. However, be prepared for a steeper learning curve and more complex cache management. For new projects in 2026, unless you have specific GraphQL requirements that demand Apollo's specialized tooling, TanStack Query offers a more pragmatic, maintainable path forward.