Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Surge for Mac VS Sonar by Facebook

Compare Surge for Mac VS Sonar by Facebook and see what are their differences

Surge for Mac logo Surge for Mac

Advanced Web Debugging Proxy for Mac & iOS

Sonar by Facebook logo Sonar by Facebook

Extensible mobile app debugging for iOS and Android
  • Surge for Mac Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-03
  • Sonar by Facebook Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-30

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.

Sonar by Facebook features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    Sonar supports multiple platforms including iOS, Android, and React Native, making it a versatile tool for mobile app development across different environments.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source tool, Sonar allows developers to contribute to its improvement and customize it according to their needs.
  • Extensible with Plugins
    Sonar's architecture supports plugins, allowing developers to extend its capabilities and tailor it to specific debugging and inspection requirements.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Sonar offers a comprehensive set of features including layout inspection, network traffic monitoring, and log viewing, which aids in thorough debugging.
  • Real-Time Insights
    The tool provides real-time insights into running mobile applications, making it easier for developers to debug and identify performance bottlenecks on-the-fly.

Possible disadvantages of Sonar by Facebook

  • Learning Curve
    Developers might face a steep learning curve initially when setting up and integrating Sonar into their projects, particularly if they are new to such tooling.
  • Performance Overheads
    Integrating Sonar into an app might introduce some performance overhead, which can affect the app's runtime efficiency during development and testing.
  • Limited Desktop Support
    While Sonar is powerful for mobile platforms, its capabilities are limited for desktop debugging, which might be a constraint for developers working on cross-platform applications.
  • Resource Intensive
    Using Sonar can be resource-intensive, requiring significant system resources to run effectively, which might not be ideal for all development environments.
  • Potential Security Concerns
    As with any tool that interacts closely with application data, there are potential security concerns regarding data leaks and exposure, requiring careful handling of sensitive information.

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.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Surge for Mac and Sonar by Facebook)
Developer Tools
67 67%
33% 33
Proxy
100 100%
0% 0
Error Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Surge for Mac and Sonar by Facebook. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Sonar by Facebook seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 17 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Surge for Mac mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Surge for Mac yet. Tracking of Surge for Mac recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Sonar by Facebook mentions (17)

  • React Native Debugger: Best Tools and How to Use Them
    Usage: Install Flipper from its official website. Add the Flipper React Native plugin to your project. Use the Layout Inspector to debug UI hierarchies or the Network plugin to inspect failed or slow API calls. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Debugging in React Native Made Simple: Tools and Configuration Tips
    For Windows and Linux, download it from the official Flipper website. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Can anyone explain how to debug with Android Studio?
    Definitely switch to VS Code! I personally don't use the built in VS Code debugger, but check out Flipper as another option. It's got a lot of great tools and plugins for debugging. The Layout Inspector will be what you are looking for if you want to inspect the styling specifically. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Tools for Debugging in React-Native
    Very useful and beautiful and simply , my suggestion is to use this Flipper. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Logcat is awful. What would you improve?
    You may also want to look into custom Flipper plugins to instrument your app. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Surge for Mac and Sonar by Facebook, you can also consider the following products

Charles Proxy - HTTP proxy / HTTP monitor / Reverse Proxy

Instabug - The top apps in the world rely on Instabug for beta testing, user engagement and crash reporting.

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

Buglife - Seriously awesome bug reporting for iOS apps

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.