APIs · head to head
curl vs Token.io
curl
APIs
Command-line tool for transferring data using URLs with wide protocol support
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Token.io
APIs
Account to account pay by bank infrastructure across the UK and Europe
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only curl has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: curl open-source with no vendor pricing: curl is free and open-source under GPL 3.0; no subscription or licensing costs apply; Token.io account to account payments carry no chargeback scheme, so merchants gain cost savings but consumers lose the dispute protection cards provide, which limits adoption in general retail.
- They diverge on capability: curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, Token.io covers Payment initiation.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which curl and Token.io actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).
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
- MacOS support
- Windows support
Only in Token.io
- Payment initiation
- Variable recurring payments
- Bank network coverage
- giroAPI membership
- Payouts and refunds
- Data and account information
- Hosted payment pages
- Reconciliation reporting
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
curl
- API Developmentnot Token.io
- API Gatewaynot Token.io
- API Testingnot Token.io
- API Documentationnot Token.io
- Microservicesnot Token.io
Token.io
- A utility or telecom collecting high value bills where card interchange makes acceptance expensivenot curl
- An investment or trading platform funding customer accounts without card chargeback exposurenot curl
- A payment service provider adding pay by bank to its merchant proposition without building bank connectivitynot curl
- A German merchant using giroAPI scheme access for recurring and future dated bank paymentsnot curl
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
curl
- Open-source with no vendor pricing: curl is free and open-source under GPL 3.0; no subscription or licensing costs apply
- Commercial support costs hidden: site references 'commercial support available' but pricing is not detailed or accessible from homepage
- No SaaS model: curl is a command-line tool and library; costs are limited to optional commercial support contracts (pricing unknown)
- Self-support burden: free software means customers rely on community forums or undisclosed commercial support pricing
Token.io
- Account to account payments carry no chargeback scheme, so merchants gain cost savings but consumers lose the dispute protection cards provide, which limits adoption in general retail.
- Conversion depends on each bank's own authentication journey, and slow or broken bank redirects cost sales in ways the merchant cannot fix or even always diagnose.
- Variable recurring payments beyond sweeping are still being rolled out unevenly across banks and markets, so a subscription use case may be supported at one bank and not another.
- Token.io initiates payments rather than acting as acquirer of record, so merchants still need settlement, safeguarding and reconciliation arrangements elsewhere.
- Coverage and feature parity vary by country, so a pan European rollout means different capabilities and different bank behaviour in each market rather than one uniform product.
Pricing, plan by plan
curl
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full curl functionality
- Community support
Token.io
On request- Token.io platform$undefined/year
- Quoted per customer, typically per initiated payment
- Volume tiers and monthly minimums are common
- No interchange, so unit cost is usually well below card acceptance
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.
Choose Token.io if
- You need payment initiation.
- You work on Web, API.
- You also want variable recurring payments.
Questions people ask
- Is curl or Token.io better?
- Neither clearly leads. curl starts at Free and Token.io at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, curl or Token.io?
- curl has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for curl and On request for Token.io.
- Does curl or Token.io run on more platforms?
- curl runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile. Token.io runs on Web, API.
- Can I use curl for free?
- Yes. curl has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Token.io starts at On request.
- What is curl best used for?
- curl is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Token.io is typically brought in for.
- What can curl do that Token.io cannot?
- curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, Multiple protocols, Universal compatibility. Token.io covers Payment initiation, Variable recurring payments, Bank network coverage, giroAPI membership.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
curl: How much does curl cost?
curl is free and open-source software under the GPL 3.0 license. There is no cost to download, use, or modify the software.
SourceToken.io: Does pay by bank remove card fees?
It removes interchange and scheme fees, so unit cost is normally far below card acceptance, particularly on high value payments.
curl: Is commercial support available for curl?
Yes. The curl website references 'commercial support available,' but pricing and details are not disclosed on the homepage and require visiting the support page.
SourceToken.io: What about chargebacks?
There are none. That is the cost saving and the consumer protection gap, which is why it suits bills, top ups and account funding more than retail.
curl: Can I sponsor curl financially?
Yes. The curl website offers an option to 'Sponsor curl financially.' Visitors can donate to support curl development, but the donation link must be accessed through the site's support section.
SourceToken.io: Is Token.io regulated?
Yes, it is an authorised third party provider under UK and European open banking rules, but it initiates payments rather than holding merchant funds as an acquirer.
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