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Thunder Client VS API Tester

Compare Thunder Client VS API Tester and see what are their differences

Thunder Client logo Thunder Client

Rest API client for VS Code, lightweight Postman alternative

API Tester logo API Tester

API Tester is the first mobile app to test any type of API on the go. Including REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, SOAP, JSON RPC, XML, HTTP, HTTPS.
  • Thunder Client Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05
  • API Tester Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-06

Main features: - All types of HTTP requests: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS, COPY, LINK, UNLINK, PURGE, LOCK, UNLOCK, PROPFIND, VIEW. - Powerful GraphQL editor with full-scale experience: body editor with Queries, Mutations, Subscriptions and syntax support; variables editor; documentation explorer; request settings and metadata. - WebSocket testing tool. Handles connection and message exchange via WS or WSS. - API calls with any kind of request data encoding and transfer type (query params, URLEncoded params, FormData, raw data, send files from device storage, cloud, remote server). - Settings. TLS can be skipped, redirects can be disabled, timeouts are adjustable. Weak SSL verification can be enabled and replaced with self-signed certificate. - Import request or collection by curl, link or file from your device. And naturally, there is any type of collection for you: Swagger, OpenAPI, Postman, YAML. - Need to share request in seconds? One tap and done. Deep link and cURL command supported. - Integrations: Shortcuts, Widgets, Apple Watch app.

Additional little things: - Autocomplete for most common headers keys. - Syntax highlighting; Auto formatting. - Optimized for viewing on any device screen. - Cookies. Collect, edit, create. - Request metrics. Measure request duration, response size, status code changing. - History of all request calls. - Request authorisation. Basic Auth with password and username. OAuth with header or query access token.

Thunder Client features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Thunder Client offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to create and manage API requests without getting overwhelmed by complex features.
  • VS Code Integration
    Being an extension for Visual Studio Code, it is convenient for developers who already use VS Code, enabling seamless API testing within their development environment.
  • Lightweight
    Compared to other API testing tools, Thunder Client is lightweight, making it ideal for users who need a quick and simple solution for testing APIs without extensive configuration.
  • Environment Variables
    The tool allows the use of environment variables, enabling users to manage different environments effectively and switch between them easily.
  • Support for Collections
    Supports organizing requests into collections, allowing for efficient management and categorization of related requests.

Possible disadvantages of Thunder Client

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Thunder Client lacks some of the advanced features found in more robust API testing tools, such as automation scripts and extensive plugin support.
  • Dependency on VS Code
    As a VS Code extension, it requires Visual Studio Code to run. This dependency can be a drawback for users who prefer other code editors or standalone applications.
  • No Collaboration Features
    Unlike some other API testing tools, Thunder Client does not have built-in collaboration features, which can limit its use in team environments.
  • Platform Specific
    It is primarily designed for use within Visual Studio Code, which may not be ideal for users who work across multiple platforms or require a standalone solution.

API Tester features and specs

  • GraphQL
  • Websocket
  • Debugging APIs

Thunder Client videos

Thunder Client - API testing right inside VSCode

More videos:

  • Review - Do you really need Postman? | Use Thunder Client - VSCode extension | Easy & Lightweight
  • Review - Thunder client - Vscode extension | Say no to Postman

API Tester videos

7 Reasons Why You Should Become An API Tester | 100% Salary Hike Possible? | TheTestingAcademy

More videos:

  • Review - Talend API Tester: Technical Overview
  • Tutorial - How To Use DevTools As an API Tester? | API Testing Tutorial | Day 29

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Thunder Client and API Tester)
Developer Tools
56 56%
44% 44
APIs
59 59%
41% 41
API Tools
62 62%
38% 38
Tech
65 65%
35% 35

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Thunder Client and API Tester

Thunder Client Reviews

Best Postman Alternatives To Consider in 2025
This free, feature-rich extension integrates seamlessly with VSCode, making it ideal for developers who prefer a unified environment. Thunder Client offers collection management, environment variables, and basic automation capabilities. It stands out for its tight integration with VSCode's debugging tools.
15 Best Postman Alternatives for Automated API Testing [2022 Updated]
Thunder Client is a Vscode Postman alternative that runs as a Visual Studio Code extension (not open source). Its design focuses on simple and efficient HTTP clients while constructing or connecting with APIs. Thunder Client can handle a wide range of API requests. It effectively processes immense amounts of data simultaneously while not slowing down the VS Code program.
Source: testsigma.com
Top 5 Postman alternatives
Thunder Client is a VS Code extension focusing on being a simple and efficient HTTP client while building or integrating with APIs. It supports collections as a way to group relevant requests. Moreover, ThunderClient supports the concept of Environment and Environment Variables to store and re-use values within multiple requests. Finally, ThunderClinet offers a UI that you...
Source: testfully.io

API Tester Reviews

We have no reviews of API Tester yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, API Tester seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 18 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.

Thunder Client mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Thunder Client yet. Tracking of Thunder Client recommendations started around Mar 2021.

API Tester mentions (18)

  • How to Test APIs for Beginners-API Testing Best Practices🔥
    Manual API testing involves directly interacting with the API using tools like Apidog, API Tester or any other available online tools. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • All about Postman Collection
    You can also import this collection to the mobile app and test it. This is possible by using the API Tester. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Defect life cycle in API testing ⚙️
    It is worth noting that detecting bugs is not as simple as it may appear at first.That’s why developers and testers must have good testing tools for this. I suggest you try API Tester; you’ll love it! - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Status codes in API Testing🆗🆘
    How successful response code looks like in API Tester app. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Top 5 cryptocurrency APIs for developers ©️
    Do you know what is common to all the aforementioned APIs? You can easily access any of them by using the greatest app – API Tester :). - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Thunder Client and API Tester, you can also consider the following products

Postman - The Collaboration Platform for API Development

Insomnia REST - Design, debug, test, and mock APIs locally, on Git, or cloud. Build better APIs collaboratively for the most popular protocols with a dev‑friendly UI, built-in automation, and an extensible plugin ecosystem.

Hoppscotch - Open source API development ecosystem

RapidAPI for Mac - Paw is a REST client for Mac.

EchoAPI - Next-gen API development collaboration platform. More than just API design, debug, test, load-testing, and mock.

soapUI - SoapUI Pro is one of the most prominent API testing platforms around, allowing developers to quickly prototype the functions of their apps and get them to market with little hassle.