API Management · head to head
HTTPie vs AWS API Gateway
HTTPie
API Management
Command-line HTTP client with intuitive interface and syntax
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
AWS API Gateway
API Management
Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: HTTPie the desktop application is in public beta rather than a finished release; AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
- They diverge on capability: HTTPie covers REST Client, AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which HTTPie and AWS API Gateway actually diverge.
| Attribute | HTTPie | AWS API Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | usage-based |
| Platforms | Linux, MacOS, Windows, Web | AWS Cloud |
| Founded | 2012 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).
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 HTTPie
- REST Client
- JSON support
- Colored output
- CI/CD
- Shell scripting
- Automation
- Linux support
- MacOS support
Only in AWS API Gateway
- REST APIs
- WebSocket APIs
- HTTP APIs
- Lambda
- EC2
- DynamoDB
- CloudWatch
- IAM
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
HTTPie
- Sending and inspecting HTTP requests from the terminalnot AWS API Gateway
- A readable alternative to curl for API debuggingnot AWS API Gateway
- Testing APIs through a graphical clientnot AWS API Gateway
- Installing through apt, brew or pip in a development environmentnot AWS API Gateway
AWS API Gateway
- Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot HTTPie
- REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot HTTPie
- WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot HTTPie
- Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot HTTPie
- Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot HTTPie
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
HTTPie
- The desktop application is in public beta rather than a finished release
- Pricing for the desktop and web products is not published, while the terminal client is free and open source
- The graphical versions are newer than the CLI, so parity between them is not guaranteed
AWS API Gateway
- REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
- Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
- WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
- Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
- The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
- The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing
Pricing, plan by plan
HTTPie
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full HTTPie CLI
- Community support
- HTTPie for Web$10/monthly
- Web interface
- Cloud storage
- Team collaboration
AWS API Gateway
Free- Free TierFree
- 1M requests per month
- Basic API management
- Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
- Unlimited requests
- HTTP APIs
- REST APIs
Which should you pick?
Choose HTTPie if
- You need rest client.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Web.
- You also want json support.
Choose AWS API Gateway if
- You need rest apis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on AWS Cloud.
- You also want websocket apis.
Questions people ask
- Is HTTPie or AWS API Gateway better?
- Neither clearly leads. HTTPie starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, HTTPie or AWS API Gateway?
- HTTPie starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free.
- Does HTTPie or AWS API Gateway run on more platforms?
- HTTPie runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Web. AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud.
- Can I use HTTPie for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is HTTPie best used for?
- HTTPie is most often used for sending and inspecting http requests from the terminal, a readable alternative to curl for api debugging, testing apis through a graphical client, installing through apt, brew or pip in a development environment. Of those, sending and inspecting http requests from the terminal and a readable alternative to curl for api debugging are not what AWS API Gateway is typically brought in for.
- What can HTTPie do that AWS API Gateway cannot?
- HTTPie covers REST Client, JSON support, Colored output, CI/CD. AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda.