Amazon AppSync
Amazon AppSync is a cloud service that connects applications to events, data and AI models through GraphQL and publish-subscribe APIs.
What Amazon AppSync is
Amazon AppSync is a cloud service that connects applications to events, data and AI models through GraphQL and publish-subscribe APIs. One GraphQL request can reach multiple databases, microservices and AI models. AppSync Events supports real-time publishing and subscriptions over WebSockets, while merged GraphQL APIs combine schemas, data sources and resolvers behind one endpoint. Data sources include Lambda, DynamoDB, Aurora, OpenSearch, HTTP endpoints, EventBridge and Amazon Bedrock Runtime. Authorization options cover API keys, OIDC, Amazon Cognito, IAM and Lambda authorizers. Private APIs can be limited to a customer VPC, with AWS WAF support for common web exploits. CloudWatch and X-Ray integrations provide logging, metrics and tracing. Optional managed caching is billed hourly. AppSync includes an API explorer, client code generation and operation testing, with JavaScript and VTL server languages.
Good
- Single GraphQL request spans multiple data sources
- WebSocket publishing and subscriptions for live events
- Multiple built-in authorization methods
- Private API and AWS WAF options
- CloudWatch and X-Ray observability integrations
Watch out
- Usage charges vary with operations and data transfer
- Optional caching adds hourly billing
- Cloud deployment only
- No free trial
Who it suits
It suits developers building GraphQL APIs, federated services, AI gateways or real-time applications. Teams should be prepared for usage-based charges and cloud deployment.
Verdict
AppSync offers broad AWS integrations for GraphQL and real-time workloads, with testing and code-generation tools included. Its pricing depends on operations, connections, transfers and optional caching.
Plans and prices
From Amazon AppSync's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| AppSync Events | $1 a month | Free Tier credits may apply to eligible AWS services; usage charges vary with event operations, connection minutes, and data transfer · $1.00 per million Event API operations and $0.08 per million connection minutes; data transfer charged at the EC2 data transfer rate. |
| AppSync GraphQL | $4 a month | 250,000 query or data modification operations · 250,000 real-time updates · 600,000 connection-minutes in Free Tier; expires after 12 months · $4.00 per million Query and Data Modification Operations; additional charges for real-time updates, connection minutes, data transfer, and optional caching. |
The facts
Each one read from Amazon AppSync's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Authentication
- Built-in authorization modes include API keys, OIDC, Amazon Cognito, IAM, and Lambda authorizers.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Caching
- Optional managed server-side caching uses selectable cache instance types billed at hourly rates without long-term commitments.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- AWS states AppSync is compliant with SOC, PCI, HIPAA/HIPAA BAA, IRAP, C5, ENS High, OSPAR, and HITRUST CSF programs.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Data integrations
- AppSync data sources include Lambda, DynamoDB, Aurora, OpenSearch, HTTP endpoints, EventBridge, and Amazon Bedrock Runtime.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Federation
- AppSync Merged GraphQL APIs combine schemas, data sources, and resolvers from multiple source APIs into one endpoint.checked 7 Oct 2026
- GraphQL data access
- A single GraphQL API request can access data from multiple databases, microservices, and AI models.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- AWS describes AppSync as suitable for connecting application developers to data and building experiences such as AI gateways, federated APIs, and real-time applications.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Network security
- Private APIs can restrict exposure to a customer's VPC, and AWS WAF can help protect APIs from common web exploits.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Observability
- AppSync can integrate with Amazon CloudWatch and AWS X-Ray for logging, metrics, and tracing.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- AWS AppSync connects applications to events, data, and AI models through GraphQL and pub/sub APIs.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Real-time events
- AppSync Events supports publishing and subscribing to real-time events over WebSockets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security responsibility
- AWS says customers' compliance responsibilities depend on data sensitivity, company objectives, and applicable laws and regulations.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- AWS offers support tailored to needs ranging from startups to enterprise level through its contact-an-expert option.checked 7 Oct 2026
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