Comparing TanStack Query (React Query) vs Apollo vs SWR in 2025

Oct 08, 2025 |

7 minutes read

Server-State: The Hidden Complexity Behind Modern Frontends

In 2025, frontend development is more complex and performance-sensitive than ever before. React has continued to dominate as a frontend library, but building modern applications now often requires handling server state—data that comes from APIs and must be kept in sync with the client. Unlike local state, which can be managed with useState or useReducer, server state involves unique challenges: caching, synchronization, revalidation, and background updates.

This has led to the rise of specialized server-state management libraries. Among the most popular are:

TanStack Query (formerly React Query)
Apollo Client
SWR (Stale-While-Revalidate)

Each of these libraries provides tools for data fetching, caching, and synchronization, but they approach the problem differently. Choosing between them requires understanding their strengths, trade-offs, and how they align with your application needs.

Challenges with the Traditional Approach

Manual State Management
No Built-in Caching
Difficult Pagination & Infinite Loading
Synchronization Issues
Real-Time & Background Updates

Problem Statement

Traditionally, React developers used manual useEffect hooks with fetch or Axios for data fetching. While this approach works for simple apps, it quickly becomes problematic as applications scale:

Data must be manually cached, or users will see unnecessary network requests.
Developers need to handle loading states, error handling, retries, and synchronization logic by hand.
Shared data across components often leads to prop drilling or redundant API calls.
Features like background revalidation, pagination, or real-time updates require custom, repetitive logic.

As applications grow, these challenges increase complexity, reduce maintainability, and negatively affect performance. This is where TanStack Query, Apollo, and SWR step in—offering ready-made solutions for server-state management.

1. TanStack Query (React Query)

TanStack Query is a flexible and powerful data-fetching library. It provides hooks for fetching, caching, synchronizing, and updating server state with minimal configuration.

Key Features:

Built-in caching and background refetching
Pagination and infinite queries
Devtools for inspecting queries
Fully framework-agnostic and TypeScript friendly

Best For:

RESTful APIs
Applications requiring fine-grained cache control

2. Apollo Client

Apollo is a full-featured GraphQL client for React and other frameworks. It provides a powerful abstraction over GraphQL queries and mutations.

Key Features:

Normalized in-memory cache
Automatic cache updates based on mutation responses
Schema introspection
Apollo Studio and Devtools support

Best For:

GraphQL-first applications
Apps needing real-time updates with subscriptions

3. SWR

SWR (Stale-While-Revalidate) by Vercel is a lightweight data-fetching library focused on simplicity and performance.

Key Features:

Revalidation on focus and network recovery
Native fetch support
Very small bundle size
Easy integration with REST APIs or GraphQL

Best For:

Simple use-cases
Performance-sensitive frontend apps

Best Practices / Recommendations

Use Apollo Client when:

Your backend is GraphQL-first.
You need normalized caching for complex entity relationships.
You require subscriptions for real-time updates.

Use SWR when:

You want the simplest setup possible.
Your app has lightweight data-fetching needs.
Performance and small bundle size are priorities.

General Recommendations:

Always use Devtools (TanStack or Apollo Studio) for debugging queries.
Normalize your API responses if working with large datasets.
Implement caching policies (staleTime, cacheTime) based on app requirements.
Keep bundle size in mind—especially for performance-sensitive apps.

Simplify data fetching with React Query, Apollo & SWR

The Way Forward

In 2025, the landscape of React server-state management continues to evolve, but the three major players—TanStack Query, Apollo Client, and SWR—remain the go-to choices.

TanStack Query shines with flexibility, REST support, and developer-friendly tools.
Apollo Client is unmatched for GraphQL applications with complex relationships and real-time needs.
SWR provides a minimalistic, lightweight, and highly performant solution for simpler use cases.

Ultimately, the “best” tool depends on your application’s backend type, complexity, performance requirements, and developer expertise. By choosing the right library, teams can dramatically reduce boilerplate, improve app responsiveness, and deliver better user experiences.