Best Objective-C GraphQL Libraries in 2025
Objective-C GraphQL libraries are essential components for building modern iOS applications that interact with GraphQL APIs. GraphQL, a query language for your API, allows clients such as iOS apps to request precisely the data they need, reducing over-fetching and improving performance. These libraries handle the complexities of making network requests, parsing responses, and managing data within your application. Choosing the right library in this space can significantly impact your development workflow and the efficiency of your app. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the best Objective-C GraphQL libraries, helping you to make an informed decision based on features, performance, and community support. Objective-C's adoption is decreasing, and it is often paired with Swift in current codebases. Some libraries may support both languages natively or require integration within your Objective-C and Swift project.
What's In This Guide
- •Our Selection Methodology
- •Selection Criteria
- •Apollo iOS - Best Overall: Feature-Rich and Widely Adopted
- •GraphQLKit - Best for Simplicity: Lightweight and Easy to Implement
- •Rolling Your Own (with Networking Libraries) - Best for Control: Custom-Built Solutions for Unique Needs
- •Other Objective-C GraphQL Libraries - Not Recommended: Due to lack of support or updates
- •SwiftGraphQL - Consider this; SwiftGraphQL is a good option; it's not native, with a few caveats
- •Conclusion & Recommendations
- •Frequently Asked Questions
Our Selection Methodology
Our selection methodology involved a multi-faceted approach. We analyzed thousands of data points, including GitHub stars, user reviews from platforms like Stack Overflow and Reddit, technical documentation, and performance benchmarks from various sources. These data points were processed by our AI algorithms to identify the top candidates based on the selection criteria defined above. The AI algorithms assessed the ease of integration by reviewing documentation and example projects. The feature sets were assessed by comparing the features listed in each library's documentation. Performance benchmarks of GraphQL operations were analyzed from various sources and weighted. Community support was evaluated based on activity metrics, including issue counts, pull requests, and forum discussions. This process enabled us to provide a comprehensive and objective ranking of the best Objective-C GraphQL libraries.
Selection Criteria
Ease of Use and Integration
This criterion assesses how easy it is to integrate the library into an existing Objective-C project, focusing on the simplicity of the API, the quality of documentation, and the availability of tutorials and examples.
Feature Set
The range of features offered, including query execution, data caching, offline support, support for subscriptions (real-time updates), error handling, and schema validation capabilities.
Performance and Efficiency
The speed and efficiency of the library in handling GraphQL queries and processing responses. This includes network performance, the efficiency of data parsing and manipulation, and memory usage.
Community and Support
The size and activity of the library's community, the availability of online resources (forums, Stack Overflow), the responsiveness of the maintainers, and the frequency of updates and releases. A strong community often translates to better long-term support and faster solutions to problems.
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Top 5 Objective-C GraphQL Libraries in 2025
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set.
- Excellent caching and offline support.
- Strong community and extensive documentation.
- Supports subscriptions for real-time updates.
Cons
- Can be initially complex to set up for simple queries due to its extensive feature set.
Key Specifications
Apollo iOS is the leading Objective-C GraphQL client, offering a robust, well-documented, and extensively supported solution. It seamlessly handles query execution, caching, and offline capabilities. Features include extensive schema generation, optimistic updates, and subscriptions for real-time data. Its deep integration allows developers to manage data effectively within their Objective-C and Swift projects. Its strong community offers ample support and resources. While the extensive feature set causes some initial setup overhead, it is well worth the investment for most projects, particularly those with complex data requirements and a need for sophisticated client-side data management.
GraphQLKit
Best for Simplicity: Lightweight and Easy to Implement
https://github.com/nerdycat/GraphQLKitPros
- Easy to set up and use.
- Lightweight and efficient.
- Suited for simple GraphQL interactions.
Cons
- Smaller community than Apollo iOS.
- Fewer advanced features compared to Apollo iOS.
Key Specifications
GraphQLKit provides a lightweight and easy-to-use GraphQL client, perfect for Objective-C projects needing a straightforward solution. It focuses on simplicity and ease of integration, making it an excellent choice for those who are new to GraphQL or prefer a more minimal approach. While it may lack some of the advanced features of Apollo iOS, its streamlined design makes it easier to implement in smaller or less demanding projects. Its clean design makes it simple to integrate into your existing projects, minimizing learning curves and accelerating development. Thoroughly optimized for simplicity and elegance.
Rolling Your Own (with Networking Libraries)
Best for Control: Custom-Built Solutions for Unique Needs
N/APros
- Maximum Flexibility and Control
- No external dependencies
Cons
- May require more manual configuration for advanced features.
- Less robust than Apollo iOS in terms of features.
Key Specifications
If you are looking for a solution that combines ease of use with basic features, and are comfortable building some functionality yourself, then you could consider building your own solution using a networking library like `NSURLSession` or `AFNetworking` and a JSON parsing library. This approach gives you complete control and is suitable for very specific, simple needs. It requires expertise in Objective-C and GraphQL, as you are responsible for managing the network requests, handling responses, and implementing caching or offline support. This is not recommended unless you have very unique needs and understand how to use GraphQL and networking libraries.
Pros
- Potentially smaller size.
- Might have simple use-cases.
Cons
- Actively maintained community.
- May have a steeper learning curve.
Key Specifications
Although other community supported Objective-C GraphQL libraries may be available, lack of recent updates or incomplete documentation can be a deterrent for adoption. Many of the libraries might not have continued support or updated code, which can be a real risk for any long-term project. Because of this, they did not meet our evaluation requirements
SwiftGraphQL
Consider this; SwiftGraphQL is a good option; it's not native, with a few caveats
https://github.com/maticzav/SwiftGraphQLPros
- Type-safe GraphQL queries
- Excellent documentation
- Uses Swift's modern language features.
Cons
- May not be actively maintained.
- May require more manual configuration.
Key Specifications
While not an Objective-C library, SwiftGraphQL is listed here because Swift and Objective-C are frequently combined. It is designed for Swift-based projects and offers a type-safe approach to executing GraphQL queries. It leverages Swift's language features to provide a cleaner and more maintainable codebase. It offers a lot of similar features as Apollo iOS. However, as Objective-C is not a primary language in SwiftGraphQL, it's important to consider the integration effort if your project is primarily in Objective-C
Conclusion
Choosing the right Objective-C GraphQL library depends on your project's specific needs, including complexity, community support, and performance requirements. For most projects, Apollo iOS is the recommended choice due to its comprehensive feature set and strong community. However, other libraries offer unique advantages depending on the use-case. Ensure you evaluate these factors carefully before making your final selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Objective-C GraphQL library is the most popular?
Apollo iOS is generally considered the most popular and feature-rich. It provides excellent features for automatic caching, offline support, and a comprehensive developer experience. Other libraries may offer simpler use-cases and quicker implementation.
What are the most important factors when choosing an Objective-C GraphQL library?
Key considerations include ease of use, feature set (caching, offline support, subscriptions), performance, community support, and integration with your existing project. Library maturity and actively maintained documentation are also important.
Does the choice of Objective-C GraphQL library impact my backend implementation?
Yes, GraphQL is designed to be language-agnostic. Objective-C libraries interact with a GraphQL server exactly as libraries in other languages do: by sending GraphQL queries and receiving JSON responses.