When integrating NetSuite with other systems, developers often ask: “Should I use SOAP or REST?” Both are NetSuite’s official web services for data exchange, but they work differently.
In this blog, we’ll break down SOAP vs. REST in NetSuite, their strengths, and when to use each.
🛠️ What Are NetSuite Web Services?
NetSuite Web Services allow external applications to interact with NetSuite data. This means you can create, update, delete, or retrieve records programmatically.
There are two main options:
- SOAP Web Services (SuiteTalk SOAP)
- REST Web Services (REST API + RESTlets)
⚡ SOAP Web Services (SuiteTalk SOAP)
SOAP is NetSuite’s original API, using XML-based requests.
Key Features:
- Strongly typed WSDL (Web Services Definition Language).
- Supports nearly all NetSuite record types.
- Good for large, enterprise-level integrations.
- Includes built-in error handling and data validation.
👉 Best for: Systems that already use SOAP, or large enterprise integrations requiring strict structure.
⚡ REST Web Services
REST is NetSuite’s modern API, introduced for easier integration.
Key Features:
- Uses JSON format (lighter and easier than XML).
- Supports modern authentication (OAuth 2.0).
- Easier for web developers to adopt.
- Works great for real-time, lightweight integrations.
👉 Best for: Modern apps, mobile integrations, and developers familiar with REST APIs.
📊 SOAP vs. REST: A Comparison
| Feature | SOAP (SuiteTalk) | REST (REST Web Services) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | XML | JSON |
| Ease of Use | More complex | Simpler, modern |
| Coverage | Nearly all records | Growing but still partial |
| Performance | Heavier | Faster, lightweight |
| Authentication | Token-based, SSO | OAuth 2.0, Token-based |
| Best For | Enterprise, legacy systems | Web, mobile, real-time apps |
🛠️ What About RESTlets?
Apart from REST Web Services, NetSuite offers RESTlets—custom REST endpoints built with SuiteScript.
- Fully customizable (you decide input/output).
- Great for niche integrations.
- Requires developer resources to build and maintain.
👉 Best for: When standard REST/SOAP doesn’t meet your needs.
✅ Best Practices for Choosing SOAP vs. REST
- Use REST if:
- You need lightweight, real-time integrations.
- Your dev team is experienced with modern APIs.
- You don’t need 100% record coverage.
- Use SOAP if:
- You need access to all record types.
- You already have SOAP integrations.
- Your project requires strict schema validation.
- Use RESTlets if:
- You need custom business logic in your API.
- You want flexibility not available in standard APIs.
✅ Final Thoughts
Both SOAP and REST are powerful tools for integrating with NetSuite.
- SOAP offers maturity and full coverage for enterprise systems.
- REST provides simplicity, speed, and modern standards.
- RESTlets add flexibility when neither standard API fits.
By choosing the right option based on your needs, you’ll build faster, more reliable integrations that scale with your business.
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