TessTess vs Hygraph
GraphQL-native headless CMS (SaaS)
A hosted, GraphQL-native CMS (formerly GraphCMS), known for content federation across remote APIs.
Side by side
| Criterion | Tess | Hygraph |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Software you run yourself | Managed SaaS only |
| API | GraphQL generated from the models | GraphQL generated from the models, with content federation of remote sources |
| Content models | Admin UI or API, applied immediately | Schema editor in the web app, with environments |
| Data location | Your servers and your database | Hygraph's cloud, in the regions it offers |
| Review workflow | Per content type, in every edition | Content stages and workflows, depending on the plan |
| Localization | No per-field content localization yet | Built-in localization |
| Extensibility | Sandboxed WebAssembly plugins | UI extensions, webhooks and remote sources |
| Pricing | Community free for personal use; Enterprise license for commercial use | Free tier, then paid plans by usage and features |
Choose Hygraph if…
- You don't want to operate any infrastructure.
- You need content federation or built-in localization.
Choose Tess if…
- Your content must stay on your own infrastructure or database.
- You want the same GraphQL-first experience without usage-based pricing.
Moving from Hygraph to Tess
Hygraph's schema translates directly: models become content types, components become components, and union/modular fields become DYNAMIC_ZONE fields. Describe them in the tess-transfer YAML format, import them, then copy the entries with a GraphQL-to-GraphQL script.
Facts checked on October 20, 2026 from Hygraph's public documentation (hygraph.com). Products change quickly: check the vendor's site for the latest features and pricing.