Softwr

Software · head to head

Portkey vs Thunder Client

P

Portkey

Software

Observe, govern, and secure every AI interaction across your enterprise

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thunder Client logo

Thunder Client

Software

Lightweight REST API client built as VSCode extension

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Portkey the free Developer tier records only 10,000 logs per month with 3 day log retention; the $49 per month Production tier raises that to 100,000 logs with $9 per additional 100,000 requests, as of August 2026.; Thunder Client paid plans are billed annually only: Starter is $3 per user per month and capped at a maximum of 10 seats, Business is $7 per user per month with 500 monthly collection runs per user, and Enterprise is $16 per user per month for unlimited runs

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Portkey and Thunder Client actually diverge.

Attributes where Portkey and Thunder Client differ
AttributePortkeyThunder Client
PlatformsWebVSCode extension, Web
FoundedUnknown2021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Portkey

Nothing recorded that Thunder Client does not also cover.

Only in Thunder Client

  • REST Client
  • Environment variables
  • Response testing
  • VSCode
  • GitHub
  • Webhook support
  • VSCode extension support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Portkey

No use cases recorded yet. See the Portkey review.

Thunder Client

  • API Developmentnot Portkey
  • API Gatewaynot Portkey
  • API Testingnot Portkey
  • API Documentationnot Portkey
  • Microservicesnot Portkey

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Portkey

  • The free Developer tier records only 10,000 logs per month with 3 day log retention; the $49 per month Production tier raises that to 100,000 logs with $9 per additional 100,000 requests, as of August 2026.

Thunder Client

  • Paid plans are billed annually only: Starter is $3 per user per month and capped at a maximum of 10 seats, Business is $7 per user per month with 500 monthly collection runs per user, and Enterprise is $16 per user per month for unlimited runs

Pricing, plan by plan

Portkey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Portkey review.

Thunder Client

Free
  • FreeFree
    • REST client
    • Collection management
    • Local testing
  • Pro$8/monthly
    • Cloud sync
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose Portkey if

  • You want to start without paying.
Portkey review

Choose Thunder Client if

  • You need rest client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on VSCode extension, Web.
  • You also want environment variables.
Thunder Client review

Questions people ask

Is Portkey or Thunder Client better?
Neither clearly leads. Portkey starts at Free and Thunder Client at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Portkey or Thunder Client?
Portkey starts at Free and Thunder Client at Free.
Does Portkey or Thunder Client run on more platforms?
Portkey runs on Web. Thunder Client runs on VSCode extension, Web.
Can I use Portkey for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Portkey do that Thunder Client cannot?
Thunder Client covers REST Client, Environment variables, Response testing, VSCode.
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Related pages

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