Comparison

Faucet vs Hasura

Both turn databases into APIs. Hasura leads with GraphQL and real-time subscriptions. Faucet takes a different path: REST-first, single binary, 7 databases, MIT licensed, and native MCP for AI agents.

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TL;DR

Hasura is the go-to if you need a GraphQL API with real-time subscriptions, have a strong GraphQL frontend, and are comfortable with Docker or managed cloud pricing. It has an excellent console, strong enterprise features, and a large community (30K+ GitHub stars).

Faucet is the better fit if you want REST APIs (which most backends and integrations actually use), need to connect multiple database types natively, want a single binary you can deploy anywhere without Docker, or need MCP support for AI agent workflows. It is MIT licensed with zero feature gates.

Key Differences

The core architectural choices that set these tools apart.

REST vs GraphQL

Hasura generates a GraphQL API by default (with optional REST wrappers). Faucet generates a REST API with full OpenAPI 3.1 specs. Most backend services, mobile apps, webhooks, and third-party integrations speak REST natively.

Deployment Model

Hasura requires Docker for self-hosting or their managed Hasura Cloud. Faucet ships as a single 47MB binary — download, run, done. No Docker, no containers, no orchestration needed.

Pricing & Licensing

Hasura community edition is Apache 2.0 but enterprise features (SSO, caching, observability) are proprietary. Faucet is MIT licensed — every feature included, no open-core split, free forever for self-hosted use.

Database Support

Hasura's community edition primarily supports PostgreSQL. MS SQL and BigQuery require plugins or enterprise. Faucet natively supports 7 databases — PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, and Snowflake — from a single binary.

AI Integration

Faucet includes a native MCP server — the open industry standard for AI agent tool access used by Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf. Hasura offers PromptQL, a proprietary natural-language query layer tied to their platform.

Resource Footprint

Hasura's Docker-based deployment requires container runtime overhead plus a metadata database. Faucet runs as a single process with an embedded SQLite config store — minimal memory, no external dependencies.

Detailed Comparison

A feature-by-feature breakdown across every dimension that matters.

Feature Faucet Hasura
API Type REST with OpenAPI 3.1 GraphQL (REST via wrappers)
Databases (native) 7 — Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, Snowflake 1-3 — Postgres primary; MS SQL, BigQuery via plugins
Deployment Single binary (47MB) — no Docker required Docker container or Hasura Cloud
License MIT — fully open, no feature gates Apache 2.0 community; proprietary enterprise
Pricing (self-hosted) Free forever — all features included Free community; enterprise license required for SSO, caching, etc.
Admin UI Embedded — ships inside the binary Cloud console (requires Hasura Cloud for full features)
MCP Server Native — built-in, industry-standard protocol No — PromptQL (proprietary AI layer)
Real-time Subscriptions Not yet (planned) Yes — WebSocket-based GraphQL subscriptions
RBAC Built-in — roles, table-level, column-level permissions Built-in — row-level, column-level, role-based
Authentication API keys, JWT (planned OAuth) JWT, webhooks, admin secret; SSO in enterprise
Schema Management Auto-discovery on connect, hot reload Metadata-driven, migrations system
Performance Compiled Go, minimal overhead, single-process Haskell engine, query plan caching (enterprise)
Language Go Haskell + Rust (v2 engine)
Binary Size 47MB single file Docker image (~300MB+)
OpenAPI Spec Auto-generated OpenAPI 3.1 Not native (GraphQL introspection instead)
GitHub Stars New project (growing) 30K+ — large established community
Funding Bootstrapped $100M+ raised — VC-backed

When to Use Hasura

Hasura is an excellent tool with a mature ecosystem. It is the right choice when:

  • Your frontend is built around GraphQL (React + Apollo, Relay, urql)
  • You need real-time subscriptions via WebSocket for live dashboards or collaborative apps
  • Your stack is PostgreSQL-only and you do not need other databases
  • You have enterprise budget for SSO, observability, query caching, and managed cloud
  • You want a large community with extensive documentation and ecosystem integrations
  • You are exploring PromptQL for natural-language database queries within the Hasura platform

When to Use Faucet

Faucet is built for teams that want simplicity, REST, and broad database support:

  • You want REST APIs — the standard for backend services, webhooks, mobile apps, and integrations
  • You need to connect multiple databases (Postgres + MySQL + Oracle, etc.) from one tool
  • You prefer a single binary deployment — no Docker, no container runtime, no orchestration
  • You want truly free software — MIT license, every feature included, no open-core gotchas
  • You need MCP for AI agents — the open industry standard used by Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf
  • You want minimal resource usage — a single Go process with an embedded config store
  • You want auto-generated OpenAPI 3.1 specs for client SDK generation and documentation

Ready to Try the REST-First Approach?

Get Faucet running in under 30 seconds. Single binary, 7 databases, full RBAC, native MCP — no Docker, no signup, no credit card.

curl -fsSL https://get.faucetdb.ai | sh
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