Rust, Python & mobile clients

NEAR client libraries beyond JavaScript: near-api-rs, near-jsonrpc-client-rs, py-near and the Swift and Kotlin JSON-RPC clients — official vs community.

Intermediate4 min read3-question check

Every NEAR client ultimately speaks the same JSON-RPC API, so you can always fall back to plain HTTP. The libraries below save you from hand-encoding Borsh transactions, signing and nonce handling. Pay attention to the Status column: some long-lived names are archived.

Rust#

Library	Language	Status	What it’s for	Link
near-api (near-api-rs)	Rust	Official	High-level, builder-style API inspired by near-cli-rs: accounts, contract deploy and calls, NEAR/FT/NFT transfers, storage deposits, staking, signing via secret key, seed phrase, Ledger or OS keychain, and key pools to avoid nonce clashes.	near/near-api-rs · docs.rs
near-jsonrpc-client	Rust	Official	Lower-level typed wrapper over each RPC method (`methods::tx`, `methods::query`, …). Use it when you need exact control of requests, e.g. inside indexers or infra.	near/near-jsonrpc-client-rs

near-api-rs: read a balance (from the crate docs)

Rust

use near_api::*;
use std::str::FromStr;

#[tokio::main]
async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
    let bob = AccountId::from_str("bob.testnet")?;

    let balance = Tokens::account(bob)
        .near_balance()
        .fetch_from_testnet()
        .await?;

    println!("{balance:?}");
    Ok(())
}

Python, Swift, Kotlin and others#

Library	Language	Status	What it’s for	Link
py-near	Python	Community (listed on docs.near.org)	Async client: accounts, transfers, contract calls, plus built-in NEAR Intents (`OmniBalance`) and HOT Protocol helpers. Install with `pip install py-near`.	pvolnov/py-near · docs
near-jsonrpc-client-swift	Swift (iOS 13+, macOS)	Under the `near` org	Type-safe async/await JSON-RPC client generated from NEAR’s OpenAPI spec; Swift Package Manager.	near/near-jsonrpc-client-swift
near-jsonrpc-client-kotlin	Kotlin Multiplatform (Android, iOS)	Under the `near` org	Coroutine-based typed JSON-RPC client generated from the OpenAPI spec with kotlinx.serialization.	near/near-jsonrpc-client-kotlin
near-api-swift / near-api-kotlin	Swift / Kotlin	Legacy	Older mobile SDKs built around the web-wallet redirect login flow. Prefer the JSON-RPC clients above plus your own key management for new apps.	near-api-swift · near-api-kotlin