Best API Protocols (2025)
Ranked picks for api protocols. No "it depends."
WebSockets
The real-time whisperer. Because polling is so 2005, but debugging this can feel like time travel.
Full Rankings
WebSockets
Nice PickThe real-time whisperer. Because polling is so 2005, but debugging this can feel like time travel.
Pros
- +Enables low-latency, bidirectional communication without HTTP overhead
- +Widely supported across modern browsers and servers
- +Persistent connections reduce server load for real-time apps
Cons
- -Debugging can be a nightmare with opaque connection drops
- -Scaling requires careful state management and can get messy fast
The old reliable of web APIs. Simple enough to get you started, but good luck with those nested resources.
Pros
- +Easy to understand with standard HTTP methods
- +Stateless design simplifies scaling
- +Wide tooling and community support
Cons
- -Over-fetching and under-fetching data is common
- -Versioning can get messy fast
The microservices whisperer: blazing fast, but good luck debugging that binary blob.
Pros
- +High-performance with HTTP/2 and Protocol Buffers
- +Built-in support for streaming and load balancing
- +Strong typing and code generation across multiple languages
Cons
- -Binary payloads make debugging a nightmare
- -Steep learning curve for Protocol Buffers and HTTP/2 quirks
The over-engineered query language that makes REST look like a toddler's scribble.
Pros
- +Eliminates over-fetching and under-fetching with precise data queries
- +Strongly typed schema ensures API consistency and reduces errors
- +Aggregates data from multiple sources in a single request for efficiency
Cons
- -Complex setup and learning curve compared to REST
- -Can lead to performance issues with deeply nested queries
HTTP's chatty cousin. Real-time without the constant handshakes.
Pros
- +Full-duplex communication reduces latency for real-time apps
- +Persistent connection eliminates HTTP overhead per message
- +Widely supported in modern browsers and servers
Cons
- -Requires explicit connection management and error handling
- -Can be tricky with firewalls and proxies that block non-HTTP traffic
The architectural style that made APIs boringly reliable, but sometimes too rigid for modern needs.
Pros
- +Stateless design simplifies scaling and caching
- +Uses standard HTTP methods for predictable operations
- +Widely supported across languages and platforms
Cons
- -Can lead to over-fetching or under-fetching data
- -Lacks built-in real-time capabilities
The protocol that made XML feel like a heavyweight champion, but now it's mostly just heavy.
Pros
- +Standardized and platform-agnostic, great for enterprise integration
- +Built-in error handling and security features
- +Works well with WSDL for clear service contracts
Cons
- -Verbose XML bloat makes it slow and bandwidth-hungry
- -Complex setup compared to modern REST or GraphQL alternatives
TypeScript's love letter to API developers. Write types once, cry about mismatched schemas never.
Pros
- +End-to-end type safety without code generation
- +Seamless autocompletion and real-time error prevention
- +Reduces boilerplate by sharing types between client and server
Cons
- -Tightly coupled to TypeScript, limiting use in non-TypeScript projects
- -Can feel like magic, making debugging more opaque when things go wrong
Head-to-head comparisons
Missing a tool?
Email nice@nicepick.dev and I'll add it to the rankings.