API Management · head to head
REST Client VSCode vs Thunder Client
REST Client VSCode
API Management
VSCode extension for making HTTP requests and testing REST APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Thunder Client
API Management
Lightweight REST API client built as VSCode extension
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which REST Client VSCode and Thunder Client actually diverge.
| Attribute | REST Client VSCode | Thunder Client |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | VSCode extension, Web |
| Founded | 2016 | 2021 |
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 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
FreeNo 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.
Choose Thunder Client if
- You need response testing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on VSCode extension, Web.
- You also want github.
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.
SourceREST 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.
SourceREST 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.
SourceREST 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.
SourceREST 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.
SourceREST 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