Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Thunder Client VS TestComplete

Compare Thunder Client VS TestComplete and see what are their differences

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Thunder Client logo Thunder Client

Rest API client for VS Code, lightweight Postman alternative

TestComplete logo TestComplete

TestComplete Desktop, Web, and Mobile helps you create repeatable and accurate automated tests across multiple devices, platforms, and environments easily and quickly.
  • Thunder Client Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05
  • TestComplete Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-20

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.

TestComplete features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    TestComplete has a user-friendly interface that allows both technical and non-technical users to create automated tests with ease.
  • Scriptless Testing
    The tool supports keyword-driven testing, enabling users to create automated tests without any scripting knowledge.
  • Multi-Technology Support
    TestComplete supports testing for a wide range of technologies, including desktop, web, and mobile applications, making it a versatile tool.
  • Integration Capabilities
    It easily integrates with other SmartBear tools and third-party tools like JIRA, Jenkins, and Azure DevOps, facilitating a smooth CI/CD process.
  • Parallel Test Execution
    TestComplete allows for parallel test executions, which can significantly reduce the total testing time and speed up the development cycle.
  • Object Recognition
    The tool includes advanced object recognition methods that ensure automated tests are stable and resilient to changes in the application's UI.
  • Comprehensive Reporting
    TestComplete provides detailed test reports and logs, helping teams quickly diagnose and address any issues that arise during testing.

Possible disadvantages of TestComplete

  • Cost
    TestComplete is relatively expensive compared to other automated testing tools, which can be a significant investment for small and medium-sized businesses.
  • Resource Intensive
    The tool can be resource-intensive, requiring significant system resources for smooth operation, which might affect performance on less powerful machines.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, there can be a steep learning curve for users who want to utilize its more advanced features.
  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to some other popular testing tools, TestComplete has a smaller user community, which can make it challenging to find solutions to uncommon issues.
  • Complex Licensing Model
    The licensing model can be complex, potentially confusing for new users who need to understand different types of licenses and their limitations.

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 TestComplete

Overall verdict

  • Overall, TestComplete is considered a robust and comprehensive tool for automated testing. Its user-friendly interface and powerful testing capabilities make it a worthwhile investment for many organizations aiming to improve their software testing processes.

Why this product is good

  • TestComplete is a popular automation tool for UI testing, known for its ease of use, broad range of supported applications, and testing capabilities. It supports multiple scripting languages, such as JavaScript, Python, and VBScript, allowing testers with varying coding skills to utilize it effectively. Its record-and-playback feature makes creating tests straightforward, and its extensive integration options with other tools enhance its functionality and flexibility. Additionally, TestComplete automates functional, regression, and performance testing, which contributes to higher-quality software releases.

Recommended for

    TestComplete is recommended for organizations seeking a reliable UI testing tool that supports both desktop, mobile, and web applications. It is especially beneficial for testers who appreciate the flexibility of choosing from multiple scripting languages or those who prefer a record-and-playback approach. It suits both small teams looking for straightforward solutions and larger enterprises that require more advanced integration and automation 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

TestComplete videos

TestComplete: The Easiest-to-Use Automated UI Testing Tool

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Thunder Client and TestComplete)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Automated Testing
0 0%
100% 100
API Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Website Testing
0 0%
100% 100

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 TestComplete

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

TestComplete Reviews

Best Automation Testing Tools (Free and Paid) | July 2022
TestComplete is a commercial testing tool and it allows you to create reusable tests for all web applications including modern JavaScript frameworks like React and Angular on 2050+ browser and platform configurations.
Top 10 Best Selenium Alternatives You Should Try
TestComplete is an influential and tough automated tool for testing mobile, desktop and web applications. It can be integrated with open source tools like Selenium, Jenkins etc. TestComplete supports few name mapping functions and GUI features that are not available with Selenium.
Top 6 Complete Automation Testing Solutions
TestComplete is an automation testing tool developed by SmartBear and used for web, mobile and desktop applications. The main feature of this tool is the object recognition engine that can detect dynamic elements from a UI.
Source: dzone.com
Top 20 Best Automation Testing Tools in 2019 (Comprehensive List)
TestComplete is the top automation testing tool for desktop, mobile and web applications. With TestComplete, you can build and run functional UI tests via robust record & replay capabilities or by scripting in your favorite languages, including Python, JavaScript, VBScript and more.
Top 20 Best Automation Testing Tools in 2018 (Comprehensive List)
TestComplete is the top automation testing tool for desktop, mobile and web applications. With TestComplete, you can build and run functional UI tests via robust record & replay capabilities or by scripting in your favorite languages, including Python, JavaScript, VBScript and more.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TestComplete seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 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.

TestComplete mentions (2)

  • How to create step recording program like testcomplete?
    I've been working with Selenium and Python for the past two years and I can say I've good enough experience with them about now. One thing that has always bothered me is how much manual work I have to do in order to implement the steps I need my program to make. So I've been thinking of making my own "step recorder", something in the vein of TestComplete. I've been using PyAutoGui too and the thought of crossing... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Looking for OS automation software
    SmartBear TestComplete and Ranorex both offer 30-day free trials to try them out. Their suites make it easy to automate desktop apps, but licensing is expensive. Part of what you pay for is being able to write "codeless" tests by recording your mouse and keyboard activity and validating whatever you want on the app. Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

Postman - The Collaboration Platform for API Development

Sauce Labs - Test mobile or web apps instantly across 700+ browser/OS/device platform combinations - without infrastructure setup.

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

Ranorex Studio - Accelerate testing with Ranorex Studio, the all-in-one tool for test automation. For desktop, web, or mobile app testing, with easy codeless automation tools, a full IDE, robust object recognition, flexible reporting and built-in Selenium WebDriver.

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.