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Surge for Mac VS Charles Proxy

Compare Surge for Mac VS Charles Proxy and see what are their differences

Surge for Mac logo Surge for Mac

Advanced Web Debugging Proxy for Mac & iOS

Charles Proxy logo Charles Proxy

HTTP proxy / HTTP monitor / Reverse Proxy
  • Surge for Mac Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-03
  • Charles Proxy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20

Surge for Mac features and specs

  • Comprehensive Network Debugging
    Surge for Mac provides advanced network debugging features, including HTTP/HTTPS proxy, capture and analysis of network traffic, and robust filtering options. This makes it easy to diagnose and fix network issues.
  • Rule-based Configuration
    Surge supports complex, rule-based configurations, which are highly customizable. This allows for precise control over network behavior, aiding in development, testing, and deployment scenarios.
  • API Request Analysis
    The tool provides detailed insights into API requests and responses, helping developers and testers to understand and optimize backend API communications.
  • Advanced Proxy Capabilities
    Surge offers robust proxy capabilities, including support for SOCKS5, HTTP CONNECT, and rewrite rules, making it versatile for various network environments and use cases.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Surge boasts a user-friendly interface which simplifies the process of setting up and managing complex network configurations, making it accessible even for users who are not network experts.
  • Automation and Scripting Support
    The platform supports automation and scripting, allowing users to automate repetitive tasks and integrate Surge into their workflows using JavaScript.

Possible disadvantages of Surge for Mac

  • Cost
    Surge for Mac is a paid software, which can be relatively costly compared to some other network debugging tools or open-source alternatives.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its advanced features and capabilities, there can be a steep learning curve for new users. Understanding all of its functions and configurations may require some time and effort.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Surge, particularly with extensive network traffic analysis and debugging features enabled, can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting the overall performance of your Mac.
  • Overwhelming for Simple Use Cases
    For users with simpler needs, the extensive features of Surge may be overwhelming. In such cases, a more straightforward tool might be a better fit.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some users have reported compatibility issues with certain applications and services, which may require troubleshooting or alternative configurations to resolve.

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.

Analysis of Surge for Mac

Overall verdict

  • Surge for Mac is considered an excellent tool for those who need advanced network management and debugging capabilities. It is particularly well-regarded in the developer community for its reliability and feature-rich platform.

Why this product is good

  • Surge for Mac is praised for its powerful networking tools that cater specifically to developers and IT professionals. It offers a robust suite of functionalities including HTTP/S Proxy, Traffic Monitoring, and Local DNS Mapping, which are highly beneficial for testing and debugging purposes. The user interface is also designed to be intuitive, allowing for efficient management of network configurations.

Recommended for

    Surge is highly recommended for software developers, network administrators, and IT professionals who require comprehensive and reliable tools for network testing, debugging, and configuration management.

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Surge for Mac and Charles Proxy)
Developer Tools
41 41%
59% 59
Proxy
56 56%
44% 44
Security
31 31%
69% 69
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

Surge for Mac Reviews

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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. 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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Surge for Mac and Charles Proxy, you can also consider the following products

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

Fiddler - Fiddler is a debugging program for websites.

Weer - A HTTP protocol debugger with Chrome DevTools frontend interface

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.

mitmproxy - mitmproxy is an SSL-capable man-in-the-middle proxy for HTTP.

HTTP Headers - HTTP Headers allows you to quickly see the HTTP header information for the current URL.