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Charles Proxy VS HttpWatch

Compare Charles Proxy VS HttpWatch and see what are their differences

Charles Proxy logo Charles Proxy

HTTP proxy / HTTP monitor / Reverse Proxy

HttpWatch logo HttpWatch

HttpWatch: The ultimate HTTP Sniffer for Chrome, IE and iOS
  • Charles Proxy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20
  • HttpWatch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-23

Charles Proxy features and specs

  • Comprehensive HTTP/HTTPS Debugging
    Charles Proxy offers robust capabilities to inspect HTTP and HTTPS traffic, making it easier for developers to debug and optimize network requests.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The tool has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which makes it accessible for both novice and experienced users.
  • Support for Various Platforms
    Charles Proxy is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, enhancing its accessibility to a wide range of users.
  • Throttling Feature
    It allows users to simulate different internet speeds, latency, and bandwidth conditions, which is useful for testing applications under various network scenarios.
  • SSL Proxying
    Charles can decrypt SSL traffic, which is crucial for developers to inspect secure web traffic in development and testing phases.
  • Session Recording and Exporting
    It allows users to record network sessions and export them to share or analyze later, facilitating team collaboration and troubleshooting.

Possible disadvantages of Charles Proxy

  • Cost
    Charles Proxy is a paid tool. While it offers a trial version, a license must be purchased for continued use, which could be a limitation for some users or small teams with restricted budgets.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Although the interface is user-friendly, some advanced functionalities have a steep learning curve, especially for users who are not familiar with network debugging.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Charles Proxy can be resource-intensive on your system, potentially slowing down performance, especially when monitoring large amounts of traffic.
  • Manual Configuration
    Users need to manually configure their devices or browsers to route through Charles Proxy, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
  • Limited Automation Capabilities
    Charles Proxy has limited support for automation compared to other modern debugging tools, which may affect its suitability for automated testing workflows.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There may be compatibility issues with certain applications or devices, particularly those with strict security measures against proxying, which can impede testing efforts.

HttpWatch features and specs

  • Comprehensive Data
    HttpWatch provides detailed and comprehensive data on HTTP requests and responses, offering insights into headers, cookies, caching, and more.
  • Ease of Use
    It integrates easily with popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox, providing a straightforward and user-friendly interface.
  • Rich Diagnostics
    Offers diagnostic tools that help in identifying issues related to performance, security, and reliability of web applications.
  • Automation Support
    Supports automation through its extensive API, allowing users to include HTTP monitoring in automated testing environments.
  • Data Export Options
    Provides various options to export data in formats like CSV or XML, facilitating further analysis or reporting.

Possible disadvantages of HttpWatch

  • Cost
    HttpWatch is a paid tool, which may not be suitable for individuals or small teams with limited budgets.
  • Platform Limitation
    Primarily designed for Windows platforms, which can be restrictive for users on macOS or Linux.
  • Learning Curve
    Though user-friendly, some advanced features may require a learning curve for new users to fully utilize their potential.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version has limited features compared to the professional version, potentially reducing its utility for non-paying users.
  • Integration Limitations
    Might not integrate seamlessly with all web development tools and environments, which could limit its usefulness in some workflows.

Charles Proxy videos

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HttpWatch videos

HttpWatch Basic video tutorial

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to capture Web stats with Httpwatch

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Charles Proxy and HttpWatch)
Developer Tools
85 85%
15% 15
Proxy
100 100%
0% 0
Security
80 80%
20% 20
Error Tracking
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Charles Proxy and HttpWatch

Charles Proxy Reviews

Top 10 HTTP Client and Web Debugging Proxy Tools (2023)
Charles Proxy is another tool that has a good popularity. It is a web proxy i.e., HTTP proxy or HTTP monitor that runs on your computer. Compared to Paw which works on only macOS, Charles proxy if configured or run correctly is agreeable with all OS, web browsers, any smart devices, personal computers, and internet applications.
12 HTTP Client and Web Debugging Proxy Tools
As the name says, Charles proxy is an HTTP and reverse proxy. It works by routing local traffic through it.
Source: geekflare.com
Comparing Charles Proxy, Fiddler, Wireshark, and Requestly
Although thousands of developers around the globe use Wireshark and Charles Proxy, they fail to occupy the top side in the design aspect. Wireshark’s interface is robust and detailed but can be intimidating for beginners. While Charles Proxy has a more approachable interface compared to Wireshark, it might seem cluttered to some users. Fiddler’s UI is information-rich and...
Source: dev.to

HttpWatch Reviews

We have no reviews of HttpWatch yet.
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Charles Proxy and HttpWatch, you can also consider the following products

Fiddler - Fiddler is a debugging program for websites.

HTTP Debugger - Debug HTTP API calls to a back-end and between back-ends. Easy of use, clean UI, and short ramp-up time. Not a proxy, no network issues!

Proxyman.io - Proxyman is a high-performance macOS app, which enables developers to view HTTP/HTTPS requests from apps and domains.

Firefox Developer Tools - Examine, edit, and debug HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on the desktop and on mobile.

HTTP Toolkit - Beautiful, cross-platform & open-source tools to debug, test & build with HTTP(S). One-click setup for browsers, servers, Android, CLI tools, scripts and more.

Google Chrome Developer Tools - Get started with Google Chrome's built-in web developer tools.