Equilibrium configurations that are solutions of spherically symmetric hydrostatic equations of General Relativity for an ideal fluid obeying a polytropic (or adiabatic) equation of state are given in the framework of general relativity. The equilibriumconfigurations are given in terms of the polytropic index $n$ and the so called relativistic parameter $sigma$ (for polytropes) or $alpha$ (for adiabates).First, simple models of polytropic and adiabatic spheres for non-relativistic and ultra-relativistic case of the equation of state are introduced. Then, the comparison of polytropic and adiabatic spheres is given in some special characteristic cases and the influence of the relativistic parameter on the structure of the spheres and the gravitationaland binding energy.