Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Thunder Client VS RapidAPI for Mac

Compare Thunder Client VS RapidAPI for Mac and see what are their differences

Thunder Client logo Thunder Client

Rest API client for VS Code, lightweight Postman alternative

RapidAPI for Mac logo RapidAPI for Mac

Paw is a REST client for Mac.
  • Thunder Client Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05
  • RapidAPI for Mac Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-10-20

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.

RapidAPI for Mac features and specs

  • User Interface
    Paw.cloud offers an intuitive and visually appealing user interface, making it easy to design and manage APIs.
  • Team Collaboration
    Paw.cloud supports team collaboration features, allowing multiple users to work on API projects simultaneously.
  • Advanced Request Capabilities
    The platform offers advanced request capabilities, including the ability to customize headers, parameters, and bodies with ease.
  • Extensions and Plugins
    Paw.cloud supports a variety of extensions and plugins, allowing users to extend its functionalities according to their needs.
  • Multi-Environment Support
    The tool provides support for multiple environments, enabling seamless switching between development, staging, and production setups.

Possible disadvantages of RapidAPI for Mac

  • Cost
    Paw.cloud is a paid service, which may not be suitable for individuals or small teams with limited budgets.
  • Platform Limitation
    The software is currently available only for macOS, which limits its accessibility to a wider range of users who might be using other operating systems.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, there is still a learning curve for new users to fully utilize all of its advanced features.
  • Resource Intensive
    Paw.cloud can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down performance on older hardware.
  • Offline Accessibility
    Some functionalities may be limited or unavailable in offline mode, which could hinder productivity in environments with unstable internet connections.

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

Analysis of RapidAPI for Mac

Overall verdict

  • RapidAPI for Mac is a strong choice for developers seeking a comprehensive API development and testing environment. Its intuitive design and extensive feature set make it particularly well-suited for Mac users who need an efficient tool to streamline their API workflows.

Why this product is good

  • RapidAPI for Mac, formerly known as Paw, is considered a good tool for API testing and development due to its user-friendly interface, powerful features, and integration capabilities. It supports various authentication methods, allows for detailed request and response configurations, and offers automation through its advanced tools. The ability to easily create and manage HTTP requests makes it a valuable tool for developers working on API-centric applications.

Recommended for

  • Back-end developers
  • API testers
  • Software engineers
  • Tech-savvy individuals using macOS who need robust API development and testing capabilities.

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

RapidAPI for Mac videos

Dr Paw Paw Review & Demo | Abbey Clayton

More videos:

  • Review - Paw Perfect Review - Testing As Seen On TV Products
  • Review - PAW PATROL: ON A ROLL - REVIEW

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Thunder Client and RapidAPI for Mac)
Developer Tools
35 35%
65% 65
API Tools
23 23%
77% 77
APIs
29 29%
71% 71
Tech
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 Thunder Client and RapidAPI for Mac

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

RapidAPI for Mac Reviews

Top 10 HTTP Client and Web Debugging Proxy Tools (2023)
Are you a developer that works with macOS? Then Paw is the right pick for you. Paw is specifically built for macOS. As such, it is arguably the best tool for Mac interface. Unlike Postman which majorly revolves around API, Paw is an all-in-one tool for API development, HTTP Client, API description, and more. In terms of its functionalities, it can send all kinds of HTTP...
12 HTTP Client and Web Debugging Proxy Tools
Paw is a full-featured HTTP client, which allows you to send all kinds of HTTP requests. With Paw, you can test your APIs and also explore new ones.
Source: geekflare.com
15 Best Postman Alternatives for Automated API Testing [2022 Updated]
Paw is an advanced API tool with powerful features designed explicitly for Mac. Its primary function is to test and describe APIs, and it provides a beautiful interface to make activities such as composing requests, inspecting server responses, and exporting API definitions easier.
Source: testsigma.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RapidAPI for Mac seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 45 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.

RapidAPI for Mac mentions (45)

  • Learning API Requests with GUI client - The easy way🚀🚀
    Although Apidog is a popular REST client, you can also use others, such as Insomnia, RapidAPI for Mac, and Hoppscotch. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Sending both File and JSON in One Request to Spring Boot
    But it can't help when faced with this complex scenario because it doesn't support set the content-type for text field of a multipart request. I tried Paw, Bruno and they didn't work either. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • The Best Alternatives to Postman for API Testing
    To use Paw, purchase and download it from the Paw website. Open the app, create a new request, and start testing your API endpoints with ease. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Alternatives to Postman?
    Enjoy it while it lasts: https://paw.cloud/. Really good. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Bruno
    I myself use Paw [0] because it's native to MacOS, but I'm a little bit worried for it's longevity as it being supported by a SaaS business. But so far it's been great to document API for my personal projects. [0]: https://paw.cloud/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Thunder Client and RapidAPI for Mac, 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.

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

Apigee - Intelligent and complete API platform

Hoppscotch - Open source API development ecosystem

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.