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API Management · head to head

Prisma vs Thunder Client

Prisma logo

Prisma

API Management

Modern ORM and API client for Node.js and TypeScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thunder Client logo

Thunder Client

API Management

Lightweight REST API client built as VSCode extension

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Prisma prisma Postgres is billed per operation, with the free tier at 100,000 operations and 500 MB of storage; 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
  • They diverge on capability: Prisma covers ORM, Thunder Client covers REST Client.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Prisma and Thunder Client differ
AttributePrismaThunder Client
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsNode.js, TypeScriptVSCode extension, Web
Founded20162021

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 Prisma

  • ORM
  • Query builder
  • Auto-migrations
  • Node.js
  • TypeScript
  • GraphQL
  • REST APIs
  • Node.js support

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.

Prisma

  • Using a type safe ORM and query layer against a Postgres databasenot Thunder Client
  • Adding a managed connection pool and edge cache in front of an existing databasenot Thunder Client

Thunder Client

  • API Developmentnot Prisma
  • API Gatewaynot Prisma
  • API Testingnot Prisma
  • API Documentationnot Prisma
  • Microservicesnot Prisma

Where each one falls short

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

Prisma

  • Prisma Postgres is billed per operation, with the free tier at 100,000 operations and 500 MB of storage
  • Starter at $10 a month includes 1M operations then charges $0.0080 per 1,000
  • Storage overage runs from $2.00 per GB on Starter down to $1.00 per GB on Business, so the unit cost depends on the plan
  • Accelerate charges separately per operation and per GiB of query egress beyond the first 1 KiB
  • Cache tag invalidations are not included below the Pro plan and are billed per thousand above it

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

Prisma

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full Prisma ORM
    • Community support
  • Professional$50/monthly
    • Extended browser
    • Priority support
    • Monitoring

Thunder Client

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Prisma if

  • You need orm.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, TypeScript.
  • You also want query builder.
Prisma 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 Prisma or Thunder Client better?
Neither clearly leads. Prisma 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, Prisma or Thunder Client?
Prisma starts at Free and Thunder Client at Free.
Does Prisma or Thunder Client run on more platforms?
Prisma runs on Node.js, TypeScript. Thunder Client runs on VSCode extension, Web.
Can I use Prisma for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Prisma best used for?
Prisma is most often used for using a type safe orm and query layer against a postgres database, adding a managed connection pool and edge cache in front of an existing database. Of those, using a type safe orm and query layer against a postgres database and adding a managed connection pool and edge cache in front of an existing database are not what Thunder Client is typically brought in for.
What can Prisma do that Thunder Client cannot?
Prisma covers ORM, Query builder, Auto-migrations, Node.js. Thunder Client covers REST Client, Environment variables, Response testing, VSCode.
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