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API Management · head to head

Spring Cloud Gateway vs Thunder Client

Spring Cloud Gateway logo

Spring Cloud Gateway

API Management

API gateway built on Project Reactor for building microservices

From
Free
Rated
-
Thunder Client logo

Thunder Client

API Management

Lightweight REST API client built as VSCode extension

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Spring Cloud Gateway released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier; 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: Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Thunder Client covers REST Client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Spring Cloud Gateway and Thunder Client actually diverge.

Attributes where Spring Cloud Gateway and Thunder Client differ
AttributeSpring Cloud GatewayThunder Client
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsJava, Spring BootVSCode extension, Web
Founded19982021

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 Spring Cloud Gateway

  • Routing
  • Path Rewriting
  • Circuit Breaker
  • Spring Boot
  • Spring Security
  • Spring Cloud
  • Java support
  • Spring Boot 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.

Spring Cloud Gateway

  • 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.

Spring Cloud Gateway

  • Released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier

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

Spring Cloud Gateway

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Core Spring Cloud Gateway
    • Community support

Thunder Client

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Spring Cloud Gateway if

  • You need routing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Java, Spring Boot.
  • You also want path rewriting.

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.

Questions people ask

Is Spring Cloud Gateway or Thunder Client better?
Neither clearly leads. Spring Cloud Gateway 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, Spring Cloud Gateway or Thunder Client?
Spring Cloud Gateway starts at Free and Thunder Client at Free.
Does Spring Cloud Gateway or Thunder Client run on more platforms?
Spring Cloud Gateway runs on Java, Spring Boot. Thunder Client runs on VSCode extension, Web.
Can I use Spring Cloud Gateway for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Spring Cloud Gateway best used for?
Spring Cloud Gateway is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation.
What can Spring Cloud Gateway do that Thunder Client cannot?
Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Path Rewriting, Circuit Breaker, Spring Boot. Thunder Client covers REST Client, Environment variables, Response testing, VSCode.

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