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REST Client VSCode vs Sublime Text

REST Client VSCode logo

REST Client VSCode

APIs

VSCode extension for making HTTP requests and testing REST APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sublime Text logo

Sublime Text

Technology

A sophisticated text editor for code, markup and prose

From
$99/license
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only REST Client VSCode has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: REST Client VSCode limited to Visual Studio Code; not available as a standalone application; Sublime Text personal license requires payment after evaluation period
  • They diverge on capability: REST Client VSCode covers REST Client, Sublime Text covers Lightning fast performance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where REST Client VSCode and Sublime Text differ
AttributeREST Client VSCodeSublime Text
Starting priceFree$99/license
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
CategoryAPIsTechnology
Founded20162007

Identical on both: platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 REST Client VSCode

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

Only in Sublime Text

  • Lightning fast performance
  • Multiple selections
  • Command palette
  • Instant project switch
  • Plugin ecosystem
  • Customizable UI
  • Advanced search and replace
  • Split editing

What people use each for

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

REST Client VSCode

  • API Developmentnot Sublime Text
  • API Gatewaynot Sublime Text
  • API Testingnot Sublime Text
  • API Documentationnot Sublime Text
  • Microservicesnot Sublime Text

Sublime Text

  • Editing code and text files in a fast native desktop editornot REST Client VSCode
  • Working across large files and projects with multi cursor editingnot REST Client VSCode

Where each one falls short

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

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

Sublime Text

  • Personal license requires payment after evaluation period
  • Business licenses use annual subscription model requiring renewal
  • After 3 years of updates on personal license, upgrade required for continued updates

Pricing, plan by plan

REST Client VSCode

Free

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

Sublime Text

$99/license
  • Personal License$99/one-time
    • One license for all computers and operating systems
    • 3 years of updates
    • Free evaluation available
  • Business License - 1-10 seats$65/year
    • Per seat annual subscription
    • Volume discount for 11-25 seats at $60
    • Further discount for 26+ seats

Which should you pick?

Choose REST Client VSCode if

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

Choose Sublime Text if

  • You need lightning fast performance.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want multiple selections.
Sublime Text review

Questions people ask

Is REST Client VSCode or Sublime Text better?
Neither clearly leads. REST Client VSCode starts at Free and Sublime Text at $99/license, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, REST Client VSCode or Sublime Text?
REST Client VSCode has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for REST Client VSCode and $99/license for Sublime Text.
Does REST Client VSCode or Sublime Text run on more platforms?
REST Client VSCode runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Sublime Text runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use REST Client VSCode for free?
Yes. REST Client VSCode has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sublime Text starts at $99/license.
What is REST Client VSCode best used for?
REST Client VSCode is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Sublime Text is typically brought in for.
What can REST Client VSCode do that Sublime Text cannot?
REST Client VSCode covers REST Client, HTTP requests, Response viewing, VSCode. Sublime Text covers Lightning fast performance, Multiple selections, Command palette, Instant project switch.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Sublime Text: How much does Sublime Text cost?

Sublime Text costs $99 USD as a one-time personal license covering all your computers and operating systems, with 3 years of updates included.

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
Sublime Text: What are the business license pricing tiers?

Business licenses use annual subscription pricing: $65 per seat per year for 1-10 seats, $60 per seat for 11-25 seats, $55 per seat for 26-50 seats, and $50 per seat for 51+ seats.

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
Sublime Text: Can I evaluate Sublime Text for free?

Yes, Sublime Text may be downloaded and evaluated for free, though payment is required to continue using it after evaluation.

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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