VS Code VS Thunder Client

Compare VS Code VS Thunder Client and see what are their differences

Rating: 5.0 · 1 review
Pricing: Open source

Rating: 0 reviews

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Which is more popular?

Based on our record, VS Code seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 1219 times since March 2021.

social mentions: 1,219 vs 0
Text Editors popularity: 100% vs 0%
alternatives listed: 240+ vs 195

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

	VS Code	Thunder Client
Website	code.visualstudio.com	thunderclient.com
Pricing	Open source	—
Company	Startup from the United States	—
Listed in	Text Editors IDE Software Development Developer Tools +1	Developer Tools Tech APIs API Tools Project Management +2

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

VS Code 8 features

Thunder Client 5 features

Cross-platform
VS Code works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent development experience across different operating systems.
Extensibility
A vast library of extensions allows users to add functionalities like debuggers, linters, and themes, making it highly customizable.
Integrated Git
Built-in Git integration makes it easy to manage version control tasks directly within the editor.
Performance
Lightweight compared to full-fledged IDEs, ensuring good performance even on systems with limited resources.
IntelliSense
Advanced code completion and refactoring tools help improve coding efficiency and reduce errors.
Community Support
A strong and active community provides extensive support, tutorials, and third-party extensions.
Debugging
Robust debugging tools for various languages and frameworks are available out of the box.
Free and Open-Source
VS Code is completely free to use and open-source, which is beneficial for both individual developers and organizations.

Possible disadvantages

Limited IDE Features
While extensible, it may lack some advanced features found in dedicated IDEs out of the box.
Extension Management
Managing and configuring a large number of extensions can become cumbersome and sometimes lead to performance issues.
Learning Curve
Although user-friendly, it has a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its numerous features and customization options.
Memory Usage
Despite being lightweight, it can consume a significant amount of memory when multiple extensions are installed.
Update Frequency
Frequent updates may sometimes introduce bugs or require users to adapt to new changes quickly.
Internet Dependency
Some features and extensions may require an internet connection to function optimally.
Telemetry
By default, VS Code collects usage data, which might be a concern for users sensitive about data privacy. However, this can be disabled.

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

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.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

VS Code

Thunder Client

Overall verdict

Yes, VS Code is generally considered a good choice for developers due to its flexibility, efficiency, and strong community support. It is lightweight, fast, and user-friendly, catering to both novice and experienced developers.

Why this product is good

VS Code, developed by Microsoft, is a widely popular and versatile code editor. It offers a robust extension ecosystem, which allows developers to customize their workflow and coding environment extensively. Additionally, VS Code supports numerous programming languages right out of the box and provides features like IntelliSense, debugging, Git integration, and a built-in terminal, making it a powerful tool for developers.

Recommended for

Web developers looking for a comprehensive yet lightweight coding environment.
Software developers who need an editor with extensive language support and customization options.
Beginner programmers who would benefit from a feature-rich editor that can grow with their skills.
Developers interested in an open-source tool with continuous updates and community-driven enhancements.

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

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

VS Code 2 videos + Add

Thunder Client 3 videos + Add

My New Favorite Text Editor - Visual Studio Code

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100

VS Code

Thunder Client

100% 100%

Text Editors

0% 0%

94% 94%

Developer Tools

6% 6%

100% 100%

IDE

0% 0%

APIs

100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using VS Code and Thunder Client. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

VS Code 5.0 · 1 review

Thunder Client no reviews yet

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www.linkedin.com · Aug 2026

If you're a Windows DBA who mainly manages servers, SSMS is still hard to beat. SQL Server Data Tools makes the most sense for teams building database projects in Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL...
Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
convesio.com · Nov 2023

Visual Studio Code, commonly known as VS Code, is a powerful and extensible code editor developed by Microsoft. With its rich ecosystem of extensions and features like IntelliSense, debugging, and Git integration, VS...
13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
kinsta.com · Sep 2023

Finally, the Visual Studio Code website has numerous tabs for you to learn about the software. The documentation page walks you through steps like the setup and working with different languages. You’re also able to...

Best Postman Alternatives To Consider in 2025
www.hypertest.co · May 2024

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...
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testsigma.com · Sep 2022

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...
Top 5 Postman alternatives
testfully.io · Jun 2021

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...

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

VS Code 1219 mentions

Thunder Client 0 mentions

How to Install Python 3.14 on Mac and Set Up VS Code (2026 Beginner Guide)
Download VS Code from code.visualstudio.com, unzip it, and drag it into Applications. Running it from the Downloads folder causes update problems later. - Source: dev.to / about 15 hours ago
AI Coding Tips I Actually Use Every Day (Cursor + Angular)
Coming from VS Code, the editor feels familiar, and I like having the AI features right there alongside my code. - Source: dev.to / 7 days ago
A developer's guide to eSignature API integration
A code editor. VS Code with the Python extension is a good default; any editor works. - Source: dev.to / 19 days ago

Tracking Thunder Client since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to VS Code and Thunder Client

When comparing VS Code and Thunder Client, you can also consider the following products.

Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

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Postman
The Collaboration Platform for API Development

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Vim
Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

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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.

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Notepad++
A free source code editor which supports several programming languages running under the MS Windows environment.

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Hoppscotch
Open source API development ecosystem

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