Alternatives to REST Client for VS Code
A Visual Studio Code extension that sends HTTP requests written in .http files and shows responses. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
REST Client for VS Code
A Visual Studio Code extension that sends HTTP requests written in .http files and shows responses.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as REST Client for VS Code.
Thunder Client
Lightweight REST and GraphQL client built into VS Code.
Thunder Client stays inside VS Code but uses a graphical request panel instead of .http text files, adds GraphQL, and is closed source with paid team features.
httpYac
A command-line and VS Code client for sending HTTP, GraphQL, SOAP and gRPC requests from files.
httpYac also runs requests from text files in VS Code and adds a CLI, SOAP, GraphQL and gRPC, built-in OAuth2 and AWS auth, and CI test runs.
kulala.nvim
A Neovim plugin for sending HTTP, GraphQL, gRPC and WebSocket requests from .http files.
kulala.nvim brings .http file requests to Neovim instead of VS Code, adding GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket and scripting, and is compatible with the JetBrains .http format.
rest.nvim
A Neovim plugin that sends HTTP requests written in .http files from inside the editor.
rest.nvim runs .http file requests asynchronously inside Neovim instead of VS Code, and installation can need troubleshooting with a separate guide.
Hurl
Write HTTP requests and response checks in plain text files.
Hurl runs HTTP requests from plain text files on the command line under Apache-2.0, adding request chaining and response assertions for testing outside any editor.
Bruno
An API client that saves collections as plain files in a folder, so Git handles the sharing instead of a cloud account.
Bruno is a standalone MIT-licensed desktop app that keeps collections as files for Git, adding GraphQL, gRPC and a CLI runner, but uses its own Bru format.
Yaak
An offline-first API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets and SSE, with requests stored as files you can commit to git.
Yaak is a standalone MIT-licensed desktop client storing requests as files for git, supporting REST, GraphQL, gRPC and WebSockets, rather than running inside VS Code.
Postman
The most widely used API client, for sending HTTP requests, organising them into collections and sharing them with a team.
Postman is a separate closed-source application with collections, scripts and a test runner, storing requests in its cloud by default rather than beside your code.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
curl
Command-line tool for transferring data with URLs, supporting dozens of protocols.
Swagger Editor
A browser-based editor for writing OpenAPI definitions and sending live requests to the API.
curlconverter
A web tool that converts curl commands into equivalent code for dozens of languages and libraries.
HTTPie
Human-friendly command line HTTP client with colourised output.
Swagger UI
Renders an OpenAPI description as interactive, testable documentation.
