# Tailcall: Free Open Source Alternative to Apollo GraphQL, Hasura

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/fork/tailcall
Last updated: 2026-11-07

Tailcall (Open Source, Open Source) replaces Apollo GraphQL, Hasura. Swiftly design and ship best-practice GraphQL backends atop existing data sources and APIs.

## Tool Specifications
- **Tool Name**: Tailcall
- **Type**: Open Source Project
- **License**: Open Source
- **Official Website**: https://tailcall.run
- **GitHub Repository**: https://github.com/tailcallhq/tailcall
- **GitHub Stars**: ★ 1.4k
- **Runs On**: Local
- **Maintenance Status**: nov 2026
- **Platforms**: desktop, cross-platform, one-click install
- **Data Storage**: All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- **Installation**: Clone https://github.com/tailcallhq/tailcall or deploy with Docker Compose
- **Setup Requirements**: Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- **The Catch / Limitation**: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.

## Paid SaaS Applications Replaced (2)
Replacing these paid tools with Tailcall saves up to $50/mo ($600/yr) in software subscriptions:

| Replaced Software | Category | SaaS Price | Comparison Guide |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Apollo GraphQL](https://caniforkit.com/apollo-graphql) | [dev tools](https://caniforkit.com/category/dev-tools) | $25/mo | [Compare Apollo GraphQL vs Tailcall](https://caniforkit.com/vs/apollo-graphql-vs-tailcall) |
| [Hasura](https://caniforkit.com/hasura) | [dev tools](https://caniforkit.com/category/dev-tools) | $25/mo | [Compare Hasura vs Tailcall](https://caniforkit.com/vs/hasura-vs-tailcall) |

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Tailcall free and open source?
Tailcall is an open source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on local. Swiftly design and ship best-practice GraphQL backends atop existing data sources and APIs.

### What is the trade-off or limitation of using Tailcall?
Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.

## Related

- [Self-Hosted Open Source Directory](https://caniforkit.com/self-hosted)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)
- [Software Categories Directory](https://caniforkit.com/categories)
- [Homepage](https://caniforkit.com)