GraphQL vs REST vs gRPC — Which API for UK Software? (2025)
REST (with OpenAPI 3.0) is the right default for most UK APIs: widest tooling support, easiest to consume, natural fit with HTTP caching (important for UK GDPR minimisation at the API boundary), and the standard for FCA-regulated financial API disclosure requirements. GraphQL is better for complex frontend data requirements (reduces over-fetching). gRPC is better for high-performance internal microservice communication. ClickMasters uses REST for all external APIs. API architecture choice affects developer experience, UK GDPR data minimisation, performance, and the complexity of your API documentation — which has direct FCA COBS disclosure implications for financial APIs.
| Factor | REST + OpenAPI | GraphQL | gRPC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooling support | ✅ Universal — every language, every tool | Good — growing | Limited — gRPC tooling varies by language |
| UK GDPR data minimisation | ✅ Endpoint-level data control | ⚠️ Client specifies fields — over-exposure risk | Binary protocol — harder to audit |
| FCA API disclosure (COBS) | ✅ OpenAPI spec = machine-readable disclosure | Manual documentation | Binary — not human-readable |
| HTTP caching | ✅ GET requests cacheable (CDN, browser) | POST by default — no HTTP caching | No HTTP caching |
| Browser / mobile clients | ✅ Native HTTP — no special client needed | Requires GraphQL client | Requires gRPC-Web proxy |
| Versioning | URL versioning (/v1/, /v2/) | Schema evolution (non-breaking) | Protobuf versioning |
| Learning curve | ✅ Lowest — every developer knows REST | Medium — GraphQL schema, resolvers | High — protobuf, codegen |
| Microservice internal communication | Good | Unusual | ✅ Best — binary, low latency, streaming |
| ClickMasters default | ✅ All external APIs | Complex frontend data requirements | High-performance internal services only |
Related Pages
ClickMasters Strategy Team
James Whitmore, CTO
Book a Free Consultation Honest advice. → clickmasterssoftwaredevelopmentcompany.co.uk/contact/
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