Software · head to head
Paw vs curl
Paw
Software
Full-featured REST client for macOS with powerful scripting and testing
- From
- $99/one-time
- Rated
- -
curl
Software
Command-line tool for transferring data using URLs with wide protocol support
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only curl has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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; curl free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship
- They diverge on capability: Paw covers REST Client, curl covers HTTP/HTTPS.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Paw and curl actually diverge.
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 Paw
- REST Client
- Scripting
- Dynamic Values
- Slack
- GitHub
- Custom extensions
Only in curl
- HTTP/HTTPS
- FTP
- Multiple protocols
- Universal compatibility
- Scripting tools
- Linux support
- Windows support
- Unix support
Both cover
- MacOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Paw
- API Development
- API Gateway
- API Testing
- API Documentation
- Microservices
curl
- 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.
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
curl
- Free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship
Pricing, plan by plan
Paw
$99/one-time- Standard$99/one-time
- Full REST client
- Advanced scripting
- Extensions
- Annual License$49/yearly
- All features
- Updates
- Priority support
curl
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full curl functionality
- Community 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.
Questions people ask
- Is Paw or curl better?
- Neither clearly leads. Paw starts at $99/one-time and curl at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Paw or curl?
- curl has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/one-time for Paw and Free for curl.
- Does Paw or curl run on more platforms?
- Paw runs on MacOS. curl runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile.
- 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 Paw best used for?
- Paw is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation.
- What can Paw do that curl cannot?
- Paw covers REST Client, Scripting, Dynamic Values, Slack. curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, Multiple protocols, Universal compatibility. Both handle MacOS support.