APIs · head to head
curl vs Zimpler
curl
APIs
Command-line tool for transferring data using URLs with wide protocol support
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Zimpler
APIs
Nordic and Brazilian account-to-account payments for regulated high-risk sectors
- 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; Zimpler pricing is not published and is set by industry and risk profile, so smaller merchants cannot benchmark a quote and often discover they are paying well above a general-purpose provider.
- They diverge on capability: curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, Zimpler covers Bank payments.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which curl and Zimpler 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 Zimpler
- Bank payments
- BankID identity
- Payouts
- Recurring payments
- Risk screening
- Brazil coverage
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
curl
- API Developmentnot Zimpler
- API Gatewaynot Zimpler
- API Testingnot Zimpler
- API Documentationnot Zimpler
- Microservicesnot Zimpler
Zimpler
- A Swedish gambling operator needing deposit and verified identity in a single customer flownot curl
- A Nordic merchant wanting instant bank payouts rather than card refundsnot curl
- A trading platform where confirming account ownership before funding is a regulatory requirementnot curl
- A European operator expanding into Brazil and wanting one provider across both marketsnot 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
Zimpler
- Pricing is not published and is set by industry and risk profile, so smaller merchants cannot benchmark a quote and often discover they are paying well above a general-purpose provider.
- As a payment facilitator carrying merchant risk, it declines or offboards merchants on risk grounds, which makes it a dependency you cannot assume will persist.
- Its strength is concentrated in the Nordics, and coverage in southern and eastern Europe is thinner than pan-European account-to-account specialists.
- Revenue concentration in iGaming ties the provider to a sector under constant regulatory change, so licence changes in one market affect the supplier as well as the merchant.
- Bank transfers have no chargeback protection, so disputes are handled commercially and consumers used to card protections may resist the payment method.
Pricing, plan by plan
curl
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full curl functionality
- Community support
Zimpler
On request- Zimpler payments$undefined/year
- Per-transaction pricing quoted by industry, risk and volume
- Separate pricing for payouts and identity verification
- Merchant underwriting required, with sector restrictions
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 Zimpler if
- You need bank payments.
- You work on Web, REST API.
- You also want bankid identity.
Questions people ask
- Is curl or Zimpler better?
- Neither clearly leads. curl starts at Free and Zimpler at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, curl or Zimpler?
- curl has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for curl and On request for Zimpler.
- Does curl or Zimpler run on more platforms?
- curl runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile. Zimpler runs on Web, REST API.
- Can I use curl for free?
- Yes. curl has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zimpler 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 Zimpler is typically brought in for.
- What can curl do that Zimpler cannot?
- curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, Multiple protocols, Universal compatibility. Zimpler covers Bank payments, BankID identity, Payouts, Recurring payments.
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.
SourceZimpler: Which markets does Zimpler cover?
Sweden and the Nordics primarily, plus the wider EU and Brazil. It is strongest where national electronic identity schemes exist.
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.
SourceZimpler: Does it handle identity verification?
Yes. In the Nordics it captures BankID identity alongside the payment, which removes a separate verification step.
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.
SourceZimpler: Is pricing published?
No. It is quoted per merchant based on sector, risk and volume, and merchants must pass underwriting first.
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