Software · head to head
Thunder Client vs Tyk

Thunder Client
Software
Lightweight REST API client built as VSCode extension
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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; Tyk no plan publishes a price, so every tier requires contacting sales
- They diverge on capability: Thunder Client covers REST Client, Tyk covers API Gateway.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Thunder Client and Tyk actually diverge.
| Attribute | Thunder Client | Tyk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | open-source |
| Platforms | VSCode extension, Web | Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud |
| Founded | 2021 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Thunder Client
- REST Client
- Environment variables
- Response testing
- VSCode
- GitHub
- Webhook support
- VSCode extension support
- Web support
Only in Tyk
- API Gateway
- Rate Limiting
- Authentication
- Kubernetes
- Docker
- AWS
- Azure
- Linux support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Thunder Client
- API Developmentnot Tyk
- API Gatewaynot Tyk
- API Testingnot Tyk
- API Documentationnot Tyk
- Microservicesnot Tyk
Tyk
- Running an open source API gateway self managed, hybrid or in the cloudnot Thunder Client
- Governing APIs across regulated or multi region environmentsnot Thunder Client
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Tyk
- No plan publishes a price, so every tier requires contacting sales
- Multi region and multi cloud deployment are Enterprise only
- Custom support SLAs and a named customer success manager are Enterprise only
Pricing, plan by plan
Thunder Client
Free- FreeFree
- REST client
- Collection management
- Local testing
- Pro$8/monthly
- Cloud sync
- Team collaboration
- Advanced features
Tyk
Free- CommunityFree
- Core gateway
- Community support
- Cloud Pro$100/monthly
- Managed cloud
- Analytics
- API portal
- Cloud Enterprise$500/monthly
- Advanced features
- Dedicated support
- Custom SLA
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Tyk if
- You need api gateway.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud.
- You also want rate limiting.
Questions people ask
- Is Thunder Client or Tyk better?
- Neither clearly leads. Thunder Client starts at Free and Tyk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Thunder Client or Tyk?
- Thunder Client starts at Free and Tyk at Free.
- Does Thunder Client or Tyk run on more platforms?
- Thunder Client runs on VSCode extension, Web. Tyk runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud.
- Can I use Thunder Client for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Thunder Client best used for?
- Thunder Client is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Tyk is typically brought in for.
- What can Thunder Client do that Tyk cannot?
- Thunder Client covers REST Client, Environment variables, Response testing, VSCode. Tyk covers API Gateway, Rate Limiting, Authentication, Kubernetes.
Related pages
More on Thunder Client
Keep looking
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