diff --git a/.changeset/calm-buckets-scream.md b/.changeset/calm-buckets-scream.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c9de0dd453
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/calm-buckets-scream.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+'@urql/core': major
+---
+
+Remove `defaultExchanges` from `@urql/core` and make `exchanges` a required property on `Client` construction.
+In doing so we make the `urql` package more tree-shakeable as the three default exchanges are in no code paths
+meaning they can be removed if not used.
+
+A migration would look as follows if you are currently creating a client without exchanges
+
+```js
+import { createClient, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from '@urql/core'
+
+const client = createClient({
+  url: '',
+  exchanges: [cacheExchange, fetchExchange]
+});
+```
diff --git a/.changeset/honest-apples-join.md b/.changeset/honest-apples-join.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dc5efc5d07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/honest-apples-join.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+'@urql/preact': major
+'urql': major
+---
+
+Remove the default `Client` from `Context`. Previously, `urql` kept a legacy default client in its context, with default exchanges and calling an API at `/graphql`. This has now been removed and you will have to create your own `Client` if you were relying on this behaviour.
diff --git a/docs/advanced/authoring-exchanges.md b/docs/advanced/authoring-exchanges.md
index 41a342a9a6..2710f56bd7 100644
--- a/docs/advanced/authoring-exchanges.md
+++ b/docs/advanced/authoring-exchanges.md
@@ -283,7 +283,6 @@ The default order of exchanges is:
 ```js
 import { dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from 'urql';
 
-// Also exported as `defaultExchanges`:
 [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange];
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/advanced/subscriptions.md b/docs/advanced/subscriptions.md
index 96df7a5c4e..3a0e573c1d 100644
--- a/docs/advanced/subscriptions.md
+++ b/docs/advanced/subscriptions.md
@@ -13,12 +13,14 @@ APIs and ability to handle GraphQL subscriptions.
 To add support for subscriptions we need to add the `subscriptionExchange` to our `Client`.
 
 ```js
-import { Client, defaultExchanges, subscriptionExchange } from 'urql';
+import { Client, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange, subscriptionExchange } from 'urql';
 
 const client = new Client({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
   exchanges: [
-    ...defaultExchanges,
+    dedupExchange,
+    cacheExchange,
+    fetchExchange,
     subscriptionExchange({
       forwardSubscription,
     }),
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ object with a `.subscribe()` method accepting an observer.
 For backends supporting `graphql-ws`, we recommend using the [graphql-ws](https://github.com/enisdenjo/graphql-ws) client.
 
 ```js
-import { createClient, defaultExchanges, subscriptionExchange } from 'urql';
+import { createClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange, subscriptionExchange } from 'urql';
 import { createClient as createWSClient } from 'graphql-ws';
 
 const wsClient = createWSClient({
@@ -55,7 +57,9 @@ const wsClient = createWSClient({
 const client = createClient({
   url: '/graphql',
   exchanges: [
-    ...defaultExchanges,
+    dedupExchange,
+    cacheExchange,
+    fetchExchange,
     subscriptionExchange({
       forwardSubscription: (operation) => ({
         subscribe: (sink) => ({
@@ -84,7 +88,7 @@ package](https://github.com/apollographql/subscriptions-transport-ws) can be use
 > The `subscriptions-transport-ws` package isn't actively maintained. If your API supports the new protocol or you can swap the package out, consider using [`graphql-ws`](#setting-up-graphql-ws) instead.
 
 ```js
-import { Client, defaultExchanges, subscriptionExchange } from 'urql';
+import { Client, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange, subscriptionExchange } from 'urql';
 import { SubscriptionClient } from 'subscriptions-transport-ws';
 
 const subscriptionClient = new SubscriptionClient('ws://localhost/graphql', { reconnect: true });
@@ -92,7 +96,9 @@ const subscriptionClient = new SubscriptionClient('ws://localhost/graphql', { re
 const client = new Client({
   url: '/graphql',
   exchanges: [
-    ...defaultExchanges,
+    dedupExchange,
+    cacheExchange,
+    fetchExchange,
     subscriptionExchange({
       forwardSubscription: (operation) => subscriptionClient.request(operation)
     }),
diff --git a/docs/api/core.md b/docs/api/core.md
index b417e9b85d..7c9e5092c0 100644
--- a/docs/api/core.md
+++ b/docs/api/core.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ It accepts several options on creation.
 
 | Input             | Type                                        | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
 | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `exchanges`       | `Exchange[]`                                | An array of `Exchange`s that the client should use instead of the list of `defaultExchanges`                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
+| `exchanges`       | `Exchange[]`                                | An array of `Exchange`s that the client should use                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
 | `url`             | `string`                                    | The GraphQL API URL as used by `fetchExchange`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
 | `fetchOptions`    | `RequestInit \| () => RequestInit`          | Additional `fetchOptions` that `fetch` in `fetchExchange` should use to make a request                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
 | `fetch`           | `typeof fetch`                              | An alternative implementation of `fetch` that will be used by the `fetchExchange` instead of `window.fetch`                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
@@ -523,15 +523,6 @@ this problem.
 
 It's used by the [`Client`](#client) when the `maskTypename` option is enabled.
 
-### defaultExchanges
-
-This is an array of the default `Exchange`s that the `Client` uses when the `exchanges` option isn't
-passed.
-
-```js
-const defaultExchanges = [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange];
-```
-
 ### composeExchanges
 
 This utility accepts an array of `Exchange`s and composes them into a single one.
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 8d8fcba277..0c5f4d958b 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -45,11 +45,12 @@ Whenever we decide to send a request to our API we start by using `urql`'s
 extra information on how the GraphQL requests are executed.
 
 ```js
-import { Client } from '@urql/core';
+import { Client, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from '@urql/core';
 
 new Client({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
   requestPolicy: 'cache-first',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange]
 });
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/basics/core.md b/docs/basics/core.md
index 295aca9e5c..11742e5b61 100644
--- a/docs/basics/core.md
+++ b/docs/basics/core.md
@@ -134,10 +134,11 @@ The `@urql/core` package exports a function called `createClient` which we can u
 create the GraphQL client. This central `Client` manages all of our GraphQL requests and results.
 
 ```js
-import { createClient } from '@urql/core';
+import { createClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from '@urql/core';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
 });
 ```
 
@@ -153,6 +154,7 @@ GraphQL API.
 ```js
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
   fetchOptions: () => {
     const token = getToken();
     return {
@@ -168,17 +170,13 @@ As we've seen above, the most important option for the `Client` is `url`, since
 without it. However, another important option on the `Client` is the `exchanges` option.
 
 This option passes a list of exchanges to the `Client`, which tell it how to execute our requests
-and how to cache data in a certain order. By default, this will be populated with the list of
-`defaultExchanges`.
+and how to cache data in a certain order.
 
 ```js
-import { createClient, defaultExchanges } from '@urql/core';
+import { createClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from '@urql/core';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
-  // the default:
-  exchanges: defaultExchanges,
-  // the same as:
   exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
 });
 ```
diff --git a/docs/basics/react-preact.md b/docs/basics/react-preact.md
index 3b20dc3483..269b519876 100644
--- a/docs/basics/react-preact.md
+++ b/docs/basics/react-preact.md
@@ -41,10 +41,11 @@ The `urql` and `@urql/preact` packages export a method called `createClient` whi
 create the GraphQL client. This central `Client` manages all of our GraphQL requests and results.
 
 ```js
-import { createClient } from 'urql';
+import { createClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from 'urql';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
 });
 ```
 
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ GraphQL API.
 ```js
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
   fetchOptions: () => {
     const token = getToken();
     return {
@@ -76,10 +78,11 @@ To make use of the `Client` in React & Preact we will have to provide it via the
 the `Provider` export.
 
 ```jsx
-import { createClient, Provider } from 'urql';
+import { createClient, Provider, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from 'urql';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
 });
 
 const App = () => (
@@ -245,6 +248,7 @@ import { createClient } from 'urql';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
   // every operation will by default use cache-and-network rather
   // than cache-first now:
   requestPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
diff --git a/docs/basics/svelte.md b/docs/basics/svelte.md
index 0e884e6635..f2da40d149 100644
--- a/docs/basics/svelte.md
+++ b/docs/basics/svelte.md
@@ -48,10 +48,11 @@ The `@urql/svelte` package exports a method called `createClient` which we can u
 the GraphQL client. This central `Client` manages all of our GraphQL requests and results.
 
 ```js
-import { createClient } from '@urql/svelte';
+import { createClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from '@urql/svelte';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
 });
 ```
 
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ GraphQL API.
 ```js
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
   fetchOptions: () => {
     const token = getToken();
     return {
@@ -85,10 +87,11 @@ components. This will share one `Client` with the rest of our app, if we for ins
 
 ```html
 <script>
-  import { createClient, setContextClient } from '@urql/svelte';
+  import { createClient, setContextClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from '@urql/svelte';
 
   const client = createClient({
     url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+    exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
   });
 
   setContextClient(client);
@@ -292,6 +295,7 @@ import { createClient } from '@urql/svelte';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+    exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
   // every operation will by default use cache-and-network rather
   // than cache-first now:
   requestPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
diff --git a/docs/basics/vue.md b/docs/basics/vue.md
index 219c9c6097..7dd18fc336 100644
--- a/docs/basics/vue.md
+++ b/docs/basics/vue.md
@@ -37,10 +37,11 @@ The `@urql/vue` package exports a method called `createClient` which we can use
 the GraphQL client. This central `Client` manages all of our GraphQL requests and results.
 
 ```js
-import { createClient } from '@urql/vue';
+import { createClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from '@urql/vue';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
 });
 ```
 
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ GraphQL API.
 ```js
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
   fetchOptions: () => {
     const token = getToken();
     return {
@@ -77,10 +79,11 @@ your parent components and accepts either a `Client` directly or just the option
 
 ```html
 <script>
-  import { createClient, provideClient } from '@urql/vue';
+  import { createClient, provideClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from '@urql/vue';
 
   const client = createClient({
     url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+    exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
   });
 
   provideClient(client);
@@ -361,10 +364,11 @@ provides metadata apart from the usual `query` and `variables` we may pass. This
 we may also change the `Client`'s default `requestPolicy` by passing it there.
 
 ```js
-import { createClient } from '@urql/vue';
+import { createClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange } from '@urql/vue';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'http://localhost:3000/graphql',
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
   // every operation will by default use cache-and-network rather
   // than cache-first now:
   requestPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
diff --git a/exchanges/auth/src/authExchange.test.ts b/exchanges/auth/src/authExchange.test.ts
index b5ba06acef..37d648615b 100644
--- a/exchanges/auth/src/authExchange.test.ts
+++ b/exchanges/auth/src/authExchange.test.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,10 @@ const makeExchangeArgs = () => {
           tap(op => operations.push(op)),
           map(result)
         ),
-      client: new Client({ url: '/api' }),
+      client: new Client({
+        url: '/api',
+        exchanges: [],
+      }),
     } as any,
   };
 };
diff --git a/exchanges/context/src/context.test.ts b/exchanges/context/src/context.test.ts
index e16fd0535a..9702a8f3ad 100644
--- a/exchanges/context/src/context.test.ts
+++ b/exchanges/context/src/context.test.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ const queryOneData = {
 const dispatchDebug = vi.fn();
 let client, op, ops$, next;
 beforeEach(() => {
-  client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+  client = createClient({
+    url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+    exchanges: [],
+  });
   op = client.createRequestOperation('query', {
     key: 1,
     query: queryOne,
diff --git a/exchanges/graphcache/src/ast/schemaPredicates.test.ts b/exchanges/graphcache/src/ast/schemaPredicates.test.ts
index cf2af32190..931e13de0d 100644
--- a/exchanges/graphcache/src/ast/schemaPredicates.test.ts
+++ b/exchanges/graphcache/src/ast/schemaPredicates.test.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ import { minifyIntrospectionQuery } from '@urql/introspection';
 const mocked = (x: any): any => x;
 
 describe('SchemaPredicates', () => {
-  // eslint-disable-next-line
-  const schema = buildClientSchema(minifyIntrospectionQuery(require('../test-utils/simple_schema.json')));
+  const schema = buildClientSchema(
+    // eslint-disable-next-line
+    minifyIntrospectionQuery(require('../test-utils/simple_schema.json'))
+  );
 
   const frag = (value: string): InlineFragmentNode => ({
     kind: Kind.INLINE_FRAGMENT,
diff --git a/exchanges/graphcache/src/cacheExchange.test.ts b/exchanges/graphcache/src/cacheExchange.test.ts
index 9666b6e080..6e1c425d17 100644
--- a/exchanges/graphcache/src/cacheExchange.test.ts
+++ b/exchanges/graphcache/src/cacheExchange.test.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,10 @@ const dispatchDebug = vi.fn();
 
 describe('data dependencies', () => {
   it('writes queries to the cache', () => {
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const op = client.createRequestOperation('query', {
       key: 1,
       query: queryOne,
@@ -111,7 +114,10 @@ describe('data dependencies', () => {
   });
 
   it('respects cache-only operations', () => {
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const op = client.createRequestOperation(
       'query',
       {
@@ -174,7 +180,10 @@ describe('data dependencies', () => {
       ],
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const reexec = vi
@@ -304,7 +313,10 @@ describe('data dependencies', () => {
       },
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const reexec = vi
@@ -411,7 +423,10 @@ describe('data dependencies', () => {
       },
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const reexec = vi
       .spyOn(client, 'reexecuteOperation')
@@ -473,7 +488,10 @@ describe('data dependencies', () => {
       concealAuthor: true,
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     vi.spyOn(client, 'reexecuteOperation').mockImplementation(next);
@@ -530,7 +548,10 @@ describe('data dependencies', () => {
       concealAuthor: true,
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     vi.spyOn(client, 'reexecuteOperation').mockImplementation(next);
@@ -583,7 +604,10 @@ describe('data dependencies', () => {
   });
 
   it('marks errored null fields as uncached but delivers them as expected', () => {
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const query = gql`
@@ -680,7 +704,10 @@ describe('optimistic updates', () => {
       },
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const reexec = vi
@@ -773,7 +800,10 @@ describe('optimistic updates', () => {
       },
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const reexec = vi
@@ -870,7 +900,10 @@ describe('optimistic updates', () => {
       },
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const reexec = vi
@@ -987,7 +1020,10 @@ describe('optimistic updates', () => {
       },
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const reexec = vi
@@ -1070,7 +1106,10 @@ describe('optimistic updates', () => {
 
 describe('custom resolvers', () => {
   it('follows resolvers on initial write', () => {
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const opOne = client.createRequestOperation('query', {
@@ -1143,7 +1182,10 @@ describe('custom resolvers', () => {
       },
     };
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const opOne = client.createRequestOperation('query', {
@@ -1227,7 +1269,10 @@ describe('custom resolvers', () => {
       }
     `;
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
 
     const query = gql`
@@ -1393,7 +1438,10 @@ describe('custom resolvers', () => {
 describe('schema awareness', () => {
   it('reexecutes query and returns data on partial result', () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers();
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const reexec = vi
       .spyOn(client, 'reexecuteOperation')
@@ -1536,7 +1584,10 @@ describe('schema awareness', () => {
 
   it('reexecutes query and returns data on partial results for nullable lists', () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers();
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const reexec = vi
       .spyOn(client, 'reexecuteOperation')
@@ -1661,6 +1712,7 @@ describe('commutativity', () => {
     const client = createClient({
       url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
       requestPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
+      exchanges: [],
     });
     const { source: ops$, next: next } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const query = gql`
@@ -1746,7 +1798,10 @@ describe('commutativity', () => {
 
   it('applies optimistic updates on top of commutative queries as query result comes in', () => {
     let data: any;
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next: nextOp } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const { source: res$, next: nextRes } = makeSubject<OperationResult>();
 
@@ -1836,7 +1891,10 @@ describe('commutativity', () => {
 
   it('applies mutation results on top of commutative queries', () => {
     let data: any;
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next: nextOp } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const { source: res$, next: nextRes } = makeSubject<OperationResult>();
 
@@ -1952,7 +2010,10 @@ describe('commutativity', () => {
 
   it('applies optimistic updates on top of commutative queries until mutation resolves', () => {
     let data: any;
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next: nextOp } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const { source: res$, next: nextRes } = makeSubject<OperationResult>();
 
@@ -2051,7 +2112,10 @@ describe('commutativity', () => {
 
   it('allows subscription results to be commutative when necessary', () => {
     let data: any;
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next: nextOp } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const { source: res$, next: nextRes } = makeSubject<OperationResult>();
 
@@ -2146,7 +2210,10 @@ describe('commutativity', () => {
 
   it('allows subscription results to be commutative above mutations', () => {
     let data: any;
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next: nextOp } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const { source: res$, next: nextRes } = makeSubject<OperationResult>();
 
@@ -2283,7 +2350,10 @@ describe('commutativity', () => {
     let deferredData: any;
     let combinedData: any;
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const { source: ops$, next: nextOp } = makeSubject<Operation>();
     const { source: res$, next: nextRes } = makeSubject<OperationResult>();
 
diff --git a/exchanges/graphcache/src/offlineExchange.test.ts b/exchanges/graphcache/src/offlineExchange.test.ts
index a6ffebc98c..0b4fc307c0 100644
--- a/exchanges/graphcache/src/offlineExchange.test.ts
+++ b/exchanges/graphcache/src/offlineExchange.test.ts
@@ -184,7 +184,10 @@ describe('offline', () => {
   });
 
   it('should intercept errored queries', async () => {
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const onlineSpy = vi
       .spyOn(navigator, 'onLine', 'get')
       .mockReturnValueOnce(false);
@@ -249,7 +252,10 @@ describe('offline', () => {
 
     const onlineSpy = vi.spyOn(navigator, 'onLine', 'get');
 
-    const client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+    const client = createClient({
+      url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+      exchanges: [],
+    });
     const reexecuteOperation = vi
       .spyOn(client, 'reexecuteOperation')
       .mockImplementation(() => undefined);
diff --git a/exchanges/refocus/src/refocusExchange.test.ts b/exchanges/refocus/src/refocusExchange.test.ts
index 178af829f9..605e613eb1 100644
--- a/exchanges/refocus/src/refocusExchange.test.ts
+++ b/exchanges/refocus/src/refocusExchange.test.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ const queryOneData = {
 
 let client, op, ops$, next;
 beforeEach(() => {
-  client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+  client = createClient({
+    url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+    exchanges: [],
+  });
   op = client.createRequestOperation('query', {
     key: 1,
     query: queryOne,
diff --git a/exchanges/request-policy/src/requestPolicyExchange.test.ts b/exchanges/request-policy/src/requestPolicyExchange.test.ts
index 16518ed5b6..5a44a9f907 100644
--- a/exchanges/request-policy/src/requestPolicyExchange.test.ts
+++ b/exchanges/request-policy/src/requestPolicyExchange.test.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@ const queryOneData = {
 
 let client, op, ops$, next;
 beforeEach(() => {
-  client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+  client = createClient({
+    url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+    exchanges: [],
+  });
   op = client.createRequestOperation('query', {
     key: 1,
     query: queryOne,
diff --git a/exchanges/retry/src/retryExchange.test.ts b/exchanges/retry/src/retryExchange.test.ts
index 55012161eb..41be980d75 100644
--- a/exchanges/retry/src/retryExchange.test.ts
+++ b/exchanges/retry/src/retryExchange.test.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ const queryOneError = {
 
 let client, op, ops$, next;
 beforeEach(() => {
-  client = createClient({ url: 'http://0.0.0.0' });
+  client = createClient({
+    url: 'http://0.0.0.0',
+    exchanges: [],
+  });
   op = client.createRequestOperation('query', {
     key: 1,
     query: queryOne,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/client.test.ts b/packages/core/src/client.test.ts
index 5680efd6b3..62e740c9f3 100755
--- a/packages/core/src/client.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/client.test.ts
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@ const url = 'https://hostname.com';
 
 describe('createClient / Client', () => {
   it('creates an instance of Client', () => {
-    expect(createClient({ url }) instanceof Client).toBeTruthy();
-    expect(new Client({ url }) instanceof Client).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(createClient({ url, exchanges: [] }) instanceof Client).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(new Client({ url, exchanges: [] }) instanceof Client).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
   it('passes snapshot', () => {
-    const client = createClient({ url });
+    const client = createClient({ url, exchanges: [] });
     expect(client).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
 });
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@ const subscription = {
 };
 
 let receivedOps: Operation[] = [];
-let client = createClient({ url: '1234' });
+let client = createClient({
+  url: '1234',
+  exchanges: [],
+});
 const receiveMock = vi.fn((s: Source<Operation>) =>
   pipe(
     s,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/client.ts b/packages/core/src/client.ts
index 95e0ff376d..21a584e8a0 100755
--- a/packages/core/src/client.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/client.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import {
 
 import { DocumentNode } from 'graphql';
 
-import { composeExchanges, defaultExchanges } from './exchanges';
+import { composeExchanges } from './exchanges';
 import { fallbackExchange } from './exchanges/fallback';
 
 import {
@@ -111,13 +111,13 @@ export interface ClientOptions {
    * This is the basis for how `urql` handles GraphQL operations, and exchanges handle the creation, execution,
    * and control flow of exchanges for the `Client`.
    *
-   * When this option is left out, the `Client` defaults to a list of {@link defaultExchanges}. By default, these
-   * will implement deduping, caching (via a document cache), and fetching (GraphQL over HTTP).
+   * To easily get started you should consider using the {@link dedupExchange}, {@link cacheExchange} and {@link fetchExchange}
+   * these are all exported from the core package.
    *
    * @see {@link https://formidable.com/open-source/urql/docs/architecture/#the-client-and-exchanges} for more information
    * on what `Exchange`s are and how they work.
    */
-  exchanges?: Exchange[];
+  exchanges: Exchange[];
   /** A configuration flag indicating whether support for "Suspense" is activated.
    *
    * @remarks
@@ -812,12 +812,9 @@ export const Client: new (opts: ClientOptions) => Client = function Client(
     dispatchDebug = next as ExchangeInput['dispatchDebug'];
   }
 
-  const exchanges =
-    opts.exchanges !== undefined ? opts.exchanges : defaultExchanges;
-
   // All exchange are composed into a single one and are called using the constructed client
   // and the fallback exchange stream
-  const composedExchange = composeExchanges(exchanges);
+  const composedExchange = composeExchanges(opts.exchanges);
 
   // All exchanges receive inputs using which they can forward operations to the next exchange
   // and receive a stream of results in return, access the client, or dispatch debugging events
diff --git a/packages/core/src/exchanges/index.ts b/packages/core/src/exchanges/index.ts
index bfc2135080..3434aa7668 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/exchanges/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/exchanges/index.ts
@@ -14,18 +14,3 @@ export type {
 
 export { mapExchange, mapExchange as errorExchange } from './map';
 export type { MapExchangeOpts } from './map';
-
-import { cacheExchange } from './cache';
-import { dedupExchange } from './dedup';
-import { fetchExchange } from './fetch';
-
-/** The default list of exchanges a `Client` falls back to.
- *
- * @remarks
- * When {@link ClientOptions.exchanges} isn’s passed, a {@link Client} is automatically
- * created using this list of default exchanges.
- *
- * By default, this adds deduplication of operations, a basic document cache,
- * and the built-in fetch exchange for GraphQL over HTTP.
- */
-export const defaultExchanges = [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange];
diff --git a/packages/next-urql/src/__tests__/with-urql-client.spec.ts b/packages/next-urql/src/__tests__/with-urql-client.spec.ts
index b79b4c56bb..bef0d00e77 100644
--- a/packages/next-urql/src/__tests__/with-urql-client.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/next-urql/src/__tests__/with-urql-client.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 import React, { createElement as h } from 'react';
 import { shallow, configure } from 'enzyme';
 import Adapter from 'enzyme-adapter-react-16';
-import { Client } from '@urql/core';
+import {
+  Client,
+  dedupExchange,
+  fetchExchange,
+  cacheExchange,
+} from '@urql/core';
 import { vi, expect, it, beforeEach, describe, beforeAll } from 'vitest';
 
 import { withUrqlClient } from '../with-urql-client';
@@ -26,9 +31,15 @@ describe('withUrqlClient', () => {
 
   describe('with client options', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
-      Component = withUrqlClient(() => ({ url: 'http://localhost:3000' }), {
-        ssr: true,
-      })(MockApp);
+      Component = withUrqlClient(
+        ssr => ({
+          url: 'http://localhost:3000',
+          exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, ssr, fetchExchange],
+        }),
+        {
+          ssr: true,
+        }
+      )(MockApp);
     });
 
     const mockContext: NextUrqlPageContext = {
diff --git a/packages/preact-urql/README.md b/packages/preact-urql/README.md
index 086ba16b05..d2d20a9e23 100644
--- a/packages/preact-urql/README.md
+++ b/packages/preact-urql/README.md
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ The usage is a 1:1 mapping of the React usage found [here](https://formidable.co
 small example:
 
 ```jsx
-import { createClient, defaultExchanges, Provider, useQuery } from '@urql/preact';
+import { createClient, dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange, Provider, useQuery } from '@urql/preact';
 
 const client = createClient({
   url: 'https://myHost/graphql',
-  exchanges: defaultExchanges,
+  exchanges: [dedupExchange, cacheExchange, fetchExchange],
 });
 
 const App = () => (
diff --git a/packages/preact-urql/src/context.ts b/packages/preact-urql/src/context.ts
index c3b63cef32..aa29bf1850 100644
--- a/packages/preact-urql/src/context.ts
+++ b/packages/preact-urql/src/context.ts
@@ -1,35 +1,28 @@
 import { createContext } from 'preact';
 import { useContext } from 'preact/hooks';
-import { Client, createClient } from '@urql/core';
+import { Client } from '@urql/core';
 
-// We assume some default options here; mainly not to actually be used
-// but not to error catastrophically if someone is just playing around
-const defaultClient = createClient({ url: '/graphql' });
+const OBJ = {};
+export const Context: import('preact').Context<Client | object> = createContext(
+  OBJ
+);
+export const Provider: import('preact').Provider<Client | object> =
+  Context.Provider;
+export const Consumer: import('preact').Consumer<Client | object> =
+  Context.Consumer;
 
-export const Context = createContext<Client>(defaultClient);
-export const Provider = Context.Provider;
-export const Consumer = Context.Consumer;
 Context.displayName = 'UrqlContext';
 
-let hasWarnedAboutDefault = false;
-
 export const useClient = (): Client => {
   const client = useContext(Context);
 
-  if (
-    process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production' &&
-    client === defaultClient &&
-    !hasWarnedAboutDefault
-  ) {
-    hasWarnedAboutDefault = true;
+  if (client === OBJ && process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
+    const error =
+      "No client has been specified using urql's Provider. please create a client and add a Provider.";
 
-    console.warn(
-      "Default Client: No client has been specified using urql's Provider." +
-        'This means that urql will be falling back to defaults including making ' +
-        'requests to `/graphql`.\n' +
-        "If that's not what you want, please create a client and add a Provider."
-    );
+    console.error(error);
+    throw new Error(error);
   }
 
-  return client;
+  return client as Client;
 };
diff --git a/packages/react-urql/src/context.ts b/packages/react-urql/src/context.ts
index 39edbcd5dc..4501d9daaf 100644
--- a/packages/react-urql/src/context.ts
+++ b/packages/react-urql/src/context.ts
@@ -1,37 +1,27 @@
 import { createContext, useContext } from 'react';
-import { Client, createClient } from '@urql/core';
+import { Client } from '@urql/core';
 
-// We assume some default options here; mainly not to actually be used
-// but not to error catastrophically if someone is just playing around
-const defaultClient = createClient({ url: '/graphql' });
-
-export const Context: import('react').Context<Client> = createContext(
-  defaultClient
+const OBJ = {};
+export const Context: import('react').Context<Client | object> = createContext(
+  OBJ
 );
-export const Provider: import('react').Provider<Client> = Context.Provider;
-export const Consumer: import('react').Consumer<Client> = Context.Consumer;
+export const Provider: import('react').Provider<Client | object> =
+  Context.Provider;
+export const Consumer: import('react').Consumer<Client | object> =
+  Context.Consumer;
 
 Context.displayName = 'UrqlContext';
 
-let hasWarnedAboutDefault = false;
-
 export const useClient = (): Client => {
   const client = useContext(Context);
 
-  if (
-    process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production' &&
-    client === defaultClient &&
-    !hasWarnedAboutDefault
-  ) {
-    hasWarnedAboutDefault = true;
+  if (client === OBJ && process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
+    const error =
+      "No client has been specified using urql's Provider. please create a client and add a Provider.";
 
-    console.warn(
-      "Default Client: No client has been specified using urql's Provider." +
-        'This means that urql will be falling back to defaults including making ' +
-        'requests to `/graphql`.\n' +
-        "If that's not what you want, please create a client and add a Provider."
-    );
+    console.error(error);
+    throw new Error(error);
   }
 
-  return client;
+  return client as Client;
 };
diff --git a/packages/vue-urql/src/useClient.test.ts b/packages/vue-urql/src/useClient.test.ts
index 9da191b5a2..0c901e6230 100644
--- a/packages/vue-urql/src/useClient.test.ts
+++ b/packages/vue-urql/src/useClient.test.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ describe('provideClient', () => {
         provideClient(
           new Client({
             url: 'test',
+            exchanges: [],
           })
         );