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APIs · head to head

REST Client VSCode vs Thunder Client

REST Client VSCode logo

REST Client VSCode

APIs

VSCode extension for making HTTP requests and testing REST APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thunder Client logo

Thunder Client

APIs

Lightweight REST API client built as VSCode extension

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: REST Client VSCode limited to Visual Studio Code; not available as a standalone application; 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: REST Client VSCode covers HTTP requests, Thunder Client covers Response testing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where REST Client VSCode and Thunder Client differ
AttributeREST Client VSCodeThunder Client
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxVSCode extension, Web
Founded20162021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).

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

  • HTTP requests
  • Response viewing
  • Custom headers

Only in Thunder Client

  • Response testing
  • GitHub
  • Webhook support
  • Web support

Both cover

  • REST Client
  • VSCode
  • Environment variables
  • VSCode extension support

What people use each for

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

REST Client VSCode

  • API Development
  • API Gateway
  • API Testing
  • API Documentation
  • Microservices

Thunder Client

  • 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.

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

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

REST Client VSCode

Free

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

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

Choose Thunder Client if

  • You need response testing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on VSCode extension, Web.
  • You also want github.
Thunder Client review

Questions people ask

Is REST Client VSCode or Thunder Client better?
Neither clearly leads. REST Client VSCode 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, REST Client VSCode or Thunder Client?
REST Client VSCode starts at Free and Thunder Client at Free.
Does REST Client VSCode or Thunder Client run on more platforms?
REST Client VSCode runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Thunder Client runs on VSCode extension, Web.
Can I use REST Client VSCode for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is REST Client VSCode best used for?
REST Client VSCode is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation.
What can REST Client VSCode do that Thunder Client cannot?
REST Client VSCode covers HTTP requests, Response viewing, Custom headers. Thunder Client covers Response testing, GitHub, Webhook support, Web support. Both handle REST Client, VSCode, Environment variables, VSCode extension support.

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
Thunder Client: How much does Thunder Client cost?

Thunder Client publishes a free plan at no cost, then Starter at $3, Business at $7 and Enterprise at $16, all priced annually.

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
Thunder Client: Is Thunder Client free?

Yes, there is a free plan. It is used through the Thunder Client extension for VS Code, available from the marketplace, with limits applied compared with the paid tiers.

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
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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