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curl vs Paw

curl logo

curl

Software

Command-line tool for transferring data using URLs with wide protocol support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paw logo

Paw

Software

Full-featured REST client for macOS with powerful scripting and testing

From
$99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only curl has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: curl free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship; Paw now distributed as RapidAPI for Mac; the vendor's own page states it is "exclusively built for macOS" and requires macOS 10.15+, with no Windows or Linux client
  • They diverge on capability: curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, Paw covers REST Client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which curl and Paw actually diverge.

Attributes where curl and Paw differ
AttributecurlPaw
Starting priceFree$99/one-time
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, MobileMacOS
Founded19972013

Identical on both: 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 curl

  • HTTP/HTTPS
  • FTP
  • Multiple protocols
  • Universal compatibility
  • Scripting tools
  • Linux support
  • Windows support
  • Unix support

Only in Paw

  • REST Client
  • Scripting
  • Dynamic Values
  • Slack
  • GitHub
  • Custom extensions

Both cover

  • MacOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

curl

  • API Development
  • API Gateway
  • API Testing
  • API Documentation
  • Microservices

Paw

  • API Development
  • API Gateway
  • API Testing
  • API Documentation
  • Microservices

Both are used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation, microservices, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

curl

  • Free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship

Paw

  • Now distributed as RapidAPI for Mac; the vendor's own page states it is "exclusively built for macOS" and requires macOS 10.15+, with no Windows or Linux client

Pricing, plan by plan

curl

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full curl functionality
    • Community support

Paw

$99/one-time
  • Standard$99/one-time
    • Full REST client
    • Advanced scripting
    • Extensions
  • Annual License$49/yearly
    • All features
    • Updates
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose curl if

  • You need http/https.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile.
  • You also want ftp.
curl review

Choose Paw if

  • You need rest client.
  • You work on MacOS.
  • You also want scripting.
Paw review

Questions people ask

Is curl or Paw better?
Neither clearly leads. curl starts at Free and Paw at $99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, curl or Paw?
curl has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for curl and $99/one-time for Paw.
Does curl or Paw run on more platforms?
curl runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile. Paw runs on MacOS.
Can I use curl for free?
Yes. curl has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paw starts at $99/one-time.
What is curl best used for?
curl is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation.
What can curl do that Paw cannot?
curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, Multiple protocols, Universal compatibility. Paw covers REST Client, Scripting, Dynamic Values, Slack. Both handle MacOS support.
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