Alternatives
Best Thunder Client alternatives in 2026
Thunder Client is lightweight REST API client that runs inside VS Code and JetBrains. These 9 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
Postman
Also runs on Web. A hosted platform with shared workspaces, monitoring and a free plan. Its client is proprietary, and the Team plan is priced per user, so open-source clients cost less for solo work.
Best for Hosted team workspaces and monitoring
WindowsmacOSLinuxWebCommand lineFree plan, paid upgrades
- 2
Bruno
Is open source. Free and MIT-licensed, with collections stored as Git-friendly files and no cloud sync needed. Team features need Pro at $6 per user a month, and it has fewer hosted collaboration features than Postman.
Best for Git-based API collections
WindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
- 3
Insomnia
Is open source. A Kong-maintained client with a free local Scratch Pad, Git Sync for small teams and Apache-2.0 source. Team pricing is per user, with Pro at $12 and Enterprise at $45 per user a month.
Best for Commercial client with Git Sync
macOSWindowsLinuxFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
- 4
Hoppscotch
Is open source; also runs on Web. MIT-licensed, with web, desktop and CLI versions and self-hosting on your own servers. Self-hosting adds server upkeep, while the web and desktop apps need no setup.
Best for Self-hosted open-source API testing
WebWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineSelf-hostedFree and open sourceOpen source
- 5
Yaak
Is open source. A local-first desktop client that stores requests as YAML files for Git. It is free for personal use and MIT-licensed, while work use needs a paid license, and its ecosystem is smaller than Postman's.
Best for Local-first desktop client with Git files
LinuxmacOSWindowsCommand lineFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
- 6
Kreya
Desktop client for gRPC, REST, GraphQL and WebSockets, with a free forever plan for core features and paid Pro and Enterprise tiers for scripting, snapshot tests and collections. It is the strongest option here for gRPC work.
Best for gRPC and mixed API work in a desktop client
macOSWindowsLinuxFree plan, paid upgrades
- 7
Hurl
Is open source. Apache-2.0 command-line tool that runs HTTP requests and assertions written as plain text, with installs for macOS, Windows and Linux. It has no graphical interface, so it suits scripted and CI tests more than interactive use.
Best for Scripted and CI tests written as plain text
WindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 8
HTTPie
Is open source; also runs on Web. An open-source BSD-3-Clause terminal client with readable output, plus a desktop app that is still in public beta. It suits people who work mainly in the terminal.
Best for Terminal-first HTTP testing
Command lineWebWindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source
- 9
ReqBin
Also runs on Web. Browser-based API tester that sends requests without an account, with a Premium plan at $15 a year for unlimited saved projects and higher limits. It suits quick checks, and its saved-project features sit behind the paid plan.
Best for Quick requests from a browser without signing in
WebFree plan, paid upgrades
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About Thunder Client alternatives
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