What Each Is

REST: resources at URLs, HTTP verbs.

GraphQL: single endpoint, query language.

Both work well when used right.

REST Advantages

Simple, well-understood.

HTTP native.

Cacheable easily.

Familiar tooling.

Better for public APIs.

REST Disadvantages

Over-fetching: get more than needed.

Under-fetching: multiple round trips.

Versioning: complex.

Endpoint proliferation.

GraphQL Advantages

Fetch exactly what you need.

One endpoint.

Strong typing.

Great tooling.

Efficient for frontend.

GraphQL Disadvantages

Complex to implement.

Caching harder.

Learning curve.

Overkill for simple cases.

Security concerns (query complexity).

Frontend Perspective

GraphQL: query exactly what you need.

Less over-fetching.

Types shared with backend.

Great DX with codegen.

Backend Perspective

REST: simpler to implement.

GraphQL: more setup, more powerful.

Resolvers can be complex.

N+1 problem needs handling.

Mobile Apps

GraphQL wins usually.

Bandwidth matters.

Precise data.

Fewer round trips.

Apollo Client mature.

Public APIs

REST typically better.

Predictable structure.

Documentation easier.

Rate limiting simpler.

Third-party developers prefer.

Internal APIs

Either works.

GraphQL if frontend needs complex data.

REST if simple CRUD.

Choose based on use case.

Caching

REST: HTTP cache works well.

GraphQL: harder, needs custom.

CDN cache: REST easier.

Client-side: both work.

Real-time

REST + WebSocket: separate concern.

GraphQL Subscriptions: integrated.

Both work.

GraphQL slightly more elegant.

Versioning

REST: URL versioning (v1, v2).

GraphQL: field deprecation.

GraphQL less painful long-term.

Neither perfect.

Documentation

REST: OpenAPI/Swagger.

GraphQL: self-documenting via introspection.

Both good.

GraphQL slightly better DX.

Client Libraries

REST: axios, fetch.

GraphQL: Apollo, urql, Relay.

GraphQL clients more sophisticated.

Feature-rich.

Common Mistakes

GraphQL for simple CRUD (overkill).

REST for complex nested data (multiple calls).

Not handling N+1 in GraphQL.

Not versioning REST.

Poor error handling either way.

Migration Between

Painful.

Same API can support both (with translation).

Big commitment, plan carefully.

Modern Alternative: tRPC

Not GraphQL, not REST.

Type-safe RPC calls.

Full-stack TypeScript.

Great DX.

For monorepos.

Our Recommendation

Public API: REST.

Mobile app: GraphQL.

Complex frontend: GraphQL.

Simple internal API: REST.

Full-stack TS: consider tRPC.

Based on Real Projects

This guide is based on our work with:

• Podd
• Platforma365

Further Reading

If this guide helped you, you might also want to read our comprehensive guide on Web Development.