Software · head to head
Bruno vs REST Client VSCode
Bruno
Software
Open-source IDE for API exploration with git-friendly collections
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
REST Client VSCode
Software
VSCode extension for making HTTP requests and testing REST APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Bruno native Git integration, the feature that distinguishes it from cloud API clients, is Pro only at $6 per user per month; REST Client VSCode limited to Visual Studio Code; not available as a standalone application
- They diverge on capability: Bruno covers API Testing, REST Client VSCode covers REST Client.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bruno and REST Client VSCode actually diverge.
| Attribute | Bruno | REST Client VSCode |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | Unknown |
| Founded | 2022 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Bruno
- API Testing
- Environment management
- Git-friendly storage
- GitHub
- Git repositories
- Local file system
- Windows support
- MacOS support
Only in REST Client VSCode
- REST Client
- HTTP requests
- Response viewing
- VSCode
- Environment variables
- Custom headers
- VSCode extension support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bruno
- Sending and testing HTTP requests from a local clientnot REST Client VSCode
- Keeping API collections in Git rather than a vendor cloudnot REST Client VSCode
- Offline API development without an accountnot REST Client VSCode
- Importing and syncing OpenAPI specificationsnot REST Client VSCode
REST Client VSCode
- API Developmentnot Bruno
- API Gatewaynot Bruno
- API Testingnot Bruno
- API Documentationnot Bruno
- Microservicesnot Bruno
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Bruno
- Native Git integration, the feature that distinguishes it from cloud API clients, is Pro only at $6 per user per month
- OpenAPI syncs are capped at 5 a month on the free tier
- SSO, SCIM and user management require Ultimate at $11 per user per month
- Private workspaces are a paid feature
- Advertised prices are annual rates
REST Client VSCode
- Limited to Visual Studio Code; not available as a standalone application
- No support for WebSocket, gRPC, or other advanced protocols
- No cloud sync or team server features; requires Git-based workflow
Pricing, plan by plan
Bruno
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full IDE features
- Git integration
- Local storage
REST Client VSCode
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the REST Client VSCode review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Bruno if
- You need api testing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want environment management.
Choose REST Client VSCode if
- You need rest client.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want http requests.
Questions people ask
- Is Bruno or REST Client VSCode better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bruno starts at Free and REST Client VSCode at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bruno or REST Client VSCode?
- Bruno starts at Free and REST Client VSCode at Free.
- Does Bruno or REST Client VSCode run on more platforms?
- Bruno runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. REST Client VSCode runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use Bruno for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Bruno best used for?
- Bruno is most often used for sending and testing http requests from a local client, keeping api collections in git rather than a vendor cloud, offline api development without an account, importing and syncing openapi specifications. Of those, sending and testing http requests from a local client and keeping api collections in git rather than a vendor cloud are not what REST Client VSCode is typically brought in for.
- What can Bruno do that REST Client VSCode cannot?
- Bruno covers API Testing, Environment management, Git-friendly storage, GitHub. REST Client VSCode covers REST Client, HTTP requests, Response viewing, VSCode.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
REST Client VSCode: How much does REST Client VSCode cost?
REST Client VSCode is completely free and open source. It is available on the Visual Studio Code Marketplace with no subscription or licensing fees.
SourceREST Client VSCode: What authentication methods does REST Client support?
REST Client supports Basic Auth, Digest Auth, SSL certificates, Azure AD, and AWS Signature v4 authentication for API requests.
SourceREST Client VSCode: Can I save and manage multiple requests?
Yes. REST Client supports multiple requests per file using ### delimiters, request history with auto-save, environment variables for different configurations, and code snippet generation for multiple programming languages.
SourceREST Client VSCode: How do teams collaborate with REST Client?
REST Client requests are stored as text files that can be version-controlled in Git repositories. Teams collaborate by sharing requests through Git, making the API specs part of the codebase.
SourceREST Client VSCode: What protocols does REST Client support?
REST Client primarily supports HTTP/HTTPS and GraphQL. It does not support WebSocket, gRPC, or other advanced protocols available in desktop clients like Insomnia.
SourceREST Client VSCode: Is there cloud sync for REST Client requests?
No. REST Client has no built-in cloud sync or team server features. All collaboration and sharing relies on Git repository management.
Source