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APIs · head to head

Hoppscotch vs REST Client VSCode

Hoppscotch logo

Hoppscotch

APIs

Open-source API development ecosystem with web-based REST client

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
REST Client VSCode logo

REST Client VSCode

APIs

VSCode extension for making HTTP requests and testing REST APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hoppscotch open-source project with no published commercial support plans or pricing; REST Client VSCode limited to Visual Studio Code; not available as a standalone application
  • They diverge on capability: Hoppscotch covers WebSocket, REST Client VSCode covers HTTP requests.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hoppscotch and REST Client VSCode actually diverge.

Attributes where Hoppscotch and REST Client VSCode differ
AttributeHoppscotchREST Client VSCode
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, Self-hostedWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded20192016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Hoppscotch

  • WebSocket
  • gRPC Client
  • GitHub
  • Documentation tools
  • CI/CD
  • Web support
  • Desktop support
  • Self-hosted support

Only in REST Client VSCode

  • HTTP requests
  • Response viewing
  • VSCode
  • Environment variables
  • Custom headers
  • VSCode extension support

Both cover

  • REST Client

What people use each for

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

Hoppscotch

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

REST Client VSCode

  • 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.

Hoppscotch

  • Open-source project with no published commercial support plans or pricing
  • No official enterprise tier or SLA information disclosed

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

Hoppscotch

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full REST client
    • WebSocket support
    • Community
  • Teams$8/monthly
    • Team collaboration
    • Cloud sync
    • Priority support

REST Client VSCode

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the REST Client VSCode review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Hoppscotch if

  • You need websocket.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Self-hosted.
  • You also want grpc client.
Hoppscotch review

Choose REST Client VSCode if

  • You need http requests.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want response viewing.
REST Client VSCode review

Questions people ask

Is Hoppscotch or REST Client VSCode better?
Neither clearly leads. Hoppscotch 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, Hoppscotch or REST Client VSCode?
Hoppscotch starts at Free and REST Client VSCode at Free.
Does Hoppscotch or REST Client VSCode run on more platforms?
Hoppscotch runs on Web, Desktop, Self-hosted. REST Client VSCode runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Hoppscotch for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Hoppscotch best used for?
Hoppscotch is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation.
What can Hoppscotch do that REST Client VSCode cannot?
Hoppscotch covers WebSocket, gRPC Client, GitHub, Documentation tools. REST Client VSCode covers HTTP requests, Response viewing, VSCode, Environment variables. Both handle REST Client.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hoppscotch: Is Hoppscotch free to use for API development?

Yes, Hoppscotch is a completely free, open-source API development ecosystem. There are no subscription fees, license costs, or registration requirements to access the core platform.

Source
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.

Source
Hoppscotch: Can I deploy Hoppscotch on my own infrastructure?

As an open-source project, Hoppscotch can be self-hosted and deployed on your own infrastructure. The source code is available for customization and deployment in private environments.

Source
REST 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.

Source
REST 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.

Source
REST 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.

Source
REST 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.

Source
REST 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
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