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Charles Proxy VS Postmate Client

Compare Charles Proxy VS Postmate Client and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Reviews
  3. ยป Alternatives

Charles Proxy logo Charles Proxy

HTTP proxy / HTTP monitor / Reverse Proxy

Postmate Client logo Postmate Client

Privacy-first API client for VS Code โ€” no login, no cloud sync, no telemetry.
  • Charles Proxy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20
  • Postmate Client Postmate Client running inside VS Code โ€” request builder
    Postmate Client running inside VS Code โ€” request builder //
    2026-07-07
  • Postmate Client Compare JSON responses side by side
    Compare JSON responses side by side //
    2026-07-07
  • Postmate Client Collection Runner โ€” run entire suites with one click
    Collection Runner โ€” run entire suites with one click //
    2026-07-07
  • Postmate Client HTML test execution report
    HTML test execution report //
    2026-07-07

Postmate Client is a free, privacy-first API client that runs natively inside VS Code. Test REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket APIs without leaving your editor โ€” no account required, no cloud sync, no telemetry. All requests, environments, and data stay on your machine.

Every feature is included, free โ€” there is no paid tier:

  • REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket requests with variable autocomplete
  • Collections and environments with instant switching
  • Request chaining โ€” pass values from one response into the next request without scripts
  • Data-driven testing โ€” attach a CSV data table to your environment and run a request against every row, or re-run a single row from a dropdown inside the request panel
  • Compare API responses โ€” diff two responses or two environments side by side, with differences shown in clean JSONPath notation; run bulk comparisons across a full data table for staging-vs-prod regression checks
  • Tests and assertions โ€” write them as table rows (no code) or in JavaScript with a Monaco editor
  • Collection Runner with HTML reports
  • CLI (pmc) for CI/CD pipelines โ€” GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins
  • mTLS / client certificate support โ€” certificates stay local, never uploaded
  • One-click import from Postman (v2.0/v2.1), Bruno, Swagger/OpenAPI, and cURL

Postmate Client was built by a solo developer after Postman was blocked at his organization over data privacy concerns. It is designed for developers and teams in security-conscious environments โ€” fintech, healthcare, enterprise โ€” where API payloads, tokens, and certificates must never leave the machine.

Install from the VS Code Marketplace and send your first request in under a minute.

Charles Proxy

Website
charlesproxy.com
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-
Edit details

Postmate Client

Website
postmateclient.com
Pricing URL
Official Postmate Client Pricing
$ Details
free
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Release Date
2025 June
Startup details
Country
United States
State
TX
City
Austin
Founder(s)
Shyam Narayan Yadav
Employees
1 - 9
Edit details

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.

Postmate Client features and specs

  • Protocols
    REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket
  • Runs in
    VS Code โ€” native extension, no separate app
  • Privacy-Focused
    100% local โ€” no login, no cloud sync, no telemetry
  • Data-Driven Testing
    Run a request against every row of a CSV data table, or re-run any single row
  • Response Comparison
    Diff two responses or environments in JSONPath notation; bulk compare across data tables
  • Collection Runner
    Run full suites with HTML reports
  • Tests & Assertions
    No-code table-based tests, or JavaScript
  • CLI
    pmc โ€” run collections in GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins
  • Import/Export
    Import & export Postman format; import Bruno, Swagger/OpenAPI, cURL
  • mTLS Support
    Client certificate support โ€” certificates stay local
  • Pricing
    Free โ€” every feature included, no paid tier

Analysis of Charles Proxy

Overall verdict

  • Charles Proxy is considered an excellent tool for those who need to monitor and analyze network communications. Its rich set of features and ease of use make it a valuable asset for developers and testers.

Why this product is good

  • Charles Proxy is widely regarded as a robust and versatile tool for web developers, offering comprehensive features for HTTP/HTTPS debugging, web traffic analysis, and SSL proxying. It provides a user-friendly interface, supports a wide array of platforms, and is especially useful for troubleshooting network issues and optimizing network calls.

Recommended for

  • Web Developers
  • Mobile App Developers
  • Network Engineers
  • QA Testers
  • Technical Support Teams

Analysis of Postmate Client

Overall verdict

  • I don't have verified, up-to-date information about postmateclient.com specifically, so I can't confirm its legitimacy, quality, or safety. There are many similarly-named delivery/courier-related tools and it's easy to confuse legitimate services with unofficial or low-quality clones, so caution is warranted before trusting or paying for this service.

Why this product is good

  • No independently verified reviews, ratings, or reputable coverage were found for this specific site.
  • The name is similar to major brands (e.g., Postmates), which raises the possibility of confusion with unofficial third-party tools.
  • Without clear information on the company behind it, its security practices, or customer support quality, its reliability cannot be confirmed.
  • Domain age, ownership transparency, and user feedback (via trusted review platforms) should be checked before use.

Recommended for

  • Users who have already independently verified the site's legitimacy and ownership.
  • Not recommended for those seeking an official Postmates-affiliated tool without confirming authenticity.
  • Best avoided by users who need to enter sensitive personal or payment information without first confirming security certifications (SSL, privacy policy, business registration).
  • Suitable only for advanced users comfortable doing their own due diligence (checking WHOIS data, reviews on Trustpilot/BBB, etc.) before trusting the service.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Charles Proxy and Postmate Client)

Charles Proxy

Postmate Client

Developer Tools
95 95%
Developer Tools
5% 5
API Tools
0 0%
API Tools
100% 100
Proxy
100 100%
Proxy
0% 0
Security
100 100%
Security
0% 0

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Charles Proxy and Postmate Client.

What makes your product unique?

Postmate Client's answer:

Postmate Client combines three things no other API client does together:

  • Runs natively inside VS Code โ€” no separate app
  • 100% local โ€” no login, no cloud sync, no telemetry
  • Every feature free โ€” no paid tier

Two workflows stand out:

  • Data-driven testing โ€” attach a CSV data table to an environment and every row appears in a dropdown inside the request. Run all rows, or re-run a single failing row with one click.
  • Compare mode โ€” diff responses across two environments in JSONPath notation, even across an entire data table. Staging vs prod regression testing in one click.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Postmate Client's answer:

Choose Postmate Client if your API data must stay on your machine.

  • vs Postman โ€” Postman (and its VS Code extension) requires an account and syncs to their cloud. Postmate Client has no account to sign into, because nothing leaves your disk.
  • vs Thunder Client โ€” adds full data-driven testing, response comparison, WebSocket support, and a CLI, all free.
  • No paywall anywhere โ€” collection runner, CI/CD CLI, and mTLS support are all included.

If you need shared cloud workspaces for a team, Postman is better at that โ€” Postmate Client is built for developers who want speed and privacy.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Postmate Client's answer:

Developers and QA engineers who test APIs while writing code and want their data to stay local โ€” especially in security-conscious environments (fintech, healthcare, enterprise) where cloud-based API tools are blocked or discouraged by security teams.

Also a natural fit for VS Code users tired of switching to a separate app for API testing.

What's the story behind your product?

Postmate Client's answer:

Postmate Client was built by a solo developer after Postman was blocked at his organization over data privacy concerns โ€” API payloads and tokens syncing to a third-party cloud was an unacceptable risk.

The entire product philosophy stems from that day: no login, no cloud sync, no telemetry, everything stored locally. What started as a personal tool became a full API client for VS Code โ€” and it remains free, with every feature included.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Postmate Client's answer:

  • TypeScript and the VS Code Extension API
  • Monaco Editor for scripting and diff views
  • Core logic ships as the @postmate/core npm package, which also powers the pmc CLI for CI/CD pipelines

User comments

Share your experience with using Charles Proxy and Postmate Client. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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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 Postmate Client

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.
Source: www.bestproxyreviews.com
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. Wiresharkโ€™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. Fiddlerโ€™s UI is information-rich and...
Source: dev.to

Postmate Client Reviews

We have no reviews of Postmate Client yet.
Be the first one to post

What are some alternatives?

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

Fiddler - Fiddler is a debugging program for websites.

Postman - The Collaboration Platform for API Development

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

Thunder Client - Rest API client for VS Code, lightweight Postman alternative

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.

Bruno - Bruno is a Git-integrated, fully offline, and open-source API client

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