Gel vs Wasp
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Gel | Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 64 · Good | 96 · Excellent |
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 14,170 | ★ 18,743 |
| First released | 2019 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Firebase, Supabase | Firebase |
What are Gel and Wasp?
Gel
Gel, formerly EdgeDB, is an open-source database built on PostgreSQL that combines a strongly typed schema with a powerful query language. It can be self-hosted as the data layer for application development.
- Graph-relational model
- Typed schema and migrations
- Built on PostgreSQL
- Modern query language
Wasp
Wasp is an open-source language and framework for building full-stack web apps with React, Node.js and Prisma using a concise declarative config. The generated apps are deployed and self-hosted as standard containers.
- Declarative app config
- Full-stack React + Node
- Built-in auth
- Self-hosted deploys
Gel vs Wasp: key differences
Gel is written in Python, while Wasp is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Gel versus MIT for Wasp. Wasp is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Gel. Gel is the more established project (first released 2019), while Wasp arrived in 2021.
Why pick each one
Choose Gel if…
- Strongly typed schema
- Built on PostgreSQL
- Built-in migrations
Watch out for
- New query language to learn
- Smaller ecosystem than SQL
Choose Wasp if…
- Concise declarative config
- Auth built in
- Full stack from one spec
Watch out for
- Own DSL to learn
- Young evolving framework
Frequently asked questions
Is Gel or Wasp better?
Neither is universally better. Wasp has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Gel and Wasp free and open-source?
Yes. Gel is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Wasp under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gel and Wasp with Docker?
Gel: yes. Wasp: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Gel or Wasp?
Wasp has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Gel. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.