REST vs. GraphQL APIs in PE Data Architecture ---
July 30, 2025
As private equity firms embrace digital transformation, one question keeps popping up in the back-office and data teams:
REST or GraphQL—what’s better for integrating PE data systems?
The answer? It depends on your architecture, reporting needs, and how much control you want over data queries.
| Feature | REST API | GraphQL API |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption | Widely used across tools like iLEVEL, DealCloud, NetSuite | Gaining traction in modern, data-rich platforms |
| Data Structure | Fixed and predictable | Flexible — request only the fields you need |
| Best for | Standardized, structured integrations | Custom dashboards, analytics, or multi-source queries |
| Use Case | Pulling quarterly fund admin data into BI tools | Building an LP dashboard fetching ESG, churn, revenue in one query |
| Query Style | Multiple endpoints for different data types | One endpoint — you define the query |
| Efficiency | May over-fetch or under-fetch data | Optimized data retrieval; no extra fields |
| Developer Control | Less control over payload; backend defines the response | Full control — front end defines the data shape |
| Integration Speed | Faster for basic, CRUD-style use cases | More efficient at scale, but requires upfront schema design |
| Ideal When | You need simplicity, speed, and compatibility | You need agility, customization, and real-time performance |
Choosing the Right Fit
• REST: Best for mature, well-documented systems and when stability matters most.
• GraphQL: Ideal for advanced analytics, dashboards, and when your tech team wants more control over queries.
At The PeEdge, we help PE firms design modern, API-first data architectures—balancing performance, flexibility, and integration speed.
Want help choosing the right approach? Let’s talk.