Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Thunder Client VS Ping-API

Compare Thunder Client VS Ping-API and see what are their differences

Thunder Client logo Thunder Client

Rest API client for VS Code, lightweight Postman alternative

Ping-API logo Ping-API

Automated API testing and monitoring.
  • Thunder Client Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05
  • Ping-API Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-22

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.

Ping-API features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Ping-API provides a user-friendly interface that makes setting up API monitoring quick and straightforward, even for users with limited technical expertise.
  • Comprehensive Monitoring
    Offers detailed monitoring capabilities that can track API uptime, response times, and performance metrics, ensuring that users get a clear picture of their API's health.
  • Customization
    Allows users to customize alert settings and notifications, giving them control over how they receive updates and information about their API's status.
  • Integration
    Seamlessly integrates with other tools and services, allowing users to incorporate API monitoring into their existing workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Ping-API

  • Pricing
    The service can be costly, especially for small businesses or individual developers, as the pricing model may not be as flexible for varied usage levels.
  • Limited Free Tier
    The free tier offers limited features, which might not be sufficient for more demanding monitoring requirements.
  • Complexity for Advanced Features
    Users looking to use advanced features may face a steep learning curve, as these features could require more technical knowledge to implement effectively.
  • Support Responsiveness
    Some users have reported slower response times from customer support, which could delay issue resolution when encountering problems.

Analysis of Thunder Client

Overall verdict

  • Thunder Client is a good option for developers who want a minimalistic and efficient tool for testing APIs without the need for a standalone application. It is particularly beneficial for those who use Visual Studio Code as their primary development environment.

Why this product is good

  • Thunder Client is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it a popular choice for developers who require a lightweight API testing solution. It is integrated directly into Visual Studio Code, allowing users to manage API requests without switching between applications. It supports RESTful services and offers features like collections, environment variables, and authentication support, comparable to other tools but within a more streamlined interface.

Recommended for

  • Developers who prefer working within Visual Studio Code
  • Those who need a simple and fast tool for testing REST APIs
  • Developers looking for an alternative to more complex API testing tools
  • Teams or individuals with straightforward API testing needs and require easy sharing of request collections

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

Ping-API videos

No Ping-API videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Thunder Client and Ping-API)
Developer Tools
68 68%
32% 32
API Tools
72 72%
28% 28
APIs
71 71%
29% 29
Tech
50 50%
50% 50

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 Ping-API

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

Ping-API Reviews

15 BEST SoapUI Alternatives (2022 Update)
Ping-API is API testing allows to write test script in JavaScript and CoffeeScript to test your APIs. It allows inspecting HTTP API call with a complete request and response data. For any failures, the user gets a notification through email, slack or Hipchat.
Source: www.guru99.com

What are some alternatives?

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

Postman - The Collaboration Platform for API Development

Runscope - Log, monitor and measure your API usage to solve API problems fast.

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.

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

HTTPie for Terminal - Developers all around the world rely on HTTPie for API testing.

Hoppscotch - Open source API development ecosystem