Data Fetching Strategies: SWR vs. React Query vs. Apollo Client

In the world of modern front-end development, efficient data fetching is critical to building high-performance, scalable applications. With the rise of frameworks like Next.js and the popularity of SPAs, tools like SWR, React Query, and Apollo Client have emerged as the go-to solutions. But how do they compare, and which one should you use?

Let’s break it down.

Why You Need a Data Fetching Library

While fetch and axios handle the basics, real-world applications need:

• Caching
• Background revalidation
• Pagination
• Mutation support
• Optimistic updates
• Error and loading state management

That's where libraries like SWR, React Query, and Apollo Client shine.

SWR (Stale-While-Revalidate)

From: Vercel Best for: Lightweight apps and static site generation (SSG)

Pros:

• Minimal API and easy to get started
• Excellent for SSR/SSG in Next.js
• Automatic revalidation and focus tracking
• Small bundle size

Cons:

• Limited mutation handling
• No built-in devtools (as of now)
• More manual setup for advanced use cases

React Query (TanStack Query)

From: Tanner Linsley (TanStack) Best for: Robust and scalable front-end apps

Pros:

• Rich devtools and debugging tools
• Built-in mutation support
• Background sync, pagination, retries
• Works well with REST or GraphQL

Cons:

• Slightly steeper learning curve
• Requires more boilerplate than SWR
• No first-class GraphQL support

Apollo Client

From: Apollo GraphQL Best for: GraphQL APIs and enterprise-level apps

Pros:

• Tight integration with GraphQL
• In-memory normalized caching
• Full-featured devtools and schema introspection
• Optimistic UI and advanced mutations

Cons:

• Heavier bundle size
• Complex setup for non-GraphQL users
• Steeper learning curve for beginners

Quick Comparison Table

When to Use What?

• SWR: When building Next.js apps, static sites, or minimal data needs.
• React Query: When building React apps with REST APIs, complex caching, or you need rich devtools.
• Apollo Client: If your app is built around GraphQL and needs powerful querying and caching.

Sample Code Snippets

SWR:

import useSWR from 'swr'
const fetcher = url => fetch(url).then(res => res.json())
const { data, error } = useSWR('/api/user', fetcher)

React Query:

const { data, isLoading, error } = useQuery('user', () => fetch('/api/user').then(res => res.json()))

Apollo Client:

const { data, loading, error } = useQuery(gql`
  query {
    user {
      id
      name
    }
  }
`)

Final Thoughts

There is no one-size-fits-all. The right choice depends on your stack, data source, and complexity of the application. Whether you're fetching REST data or going all-in with GraphQL, these tools can elevate your app’s performance and user experience.

#React #NextJS #GraphQL #ApolloClient #ReactQuery #SWR #WebDevelopment #Frontend #JavaScript #TypeScript #DeveloperTools #Performance #APIs #ReactHooks