REST Client for VS Code
A Visual Studio Code extension that sends HTTP requests written in .http files and shows responses.
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About REST Client for VS Code
REST Client lets you write HTTP requests as plain text in .http files inside Visual Studio Code and send them with a click. The response opens in a separate pane in the editor, so you can test an API without switching to another application.
Because requests are stored as text files, they can be kept in a project repository and shared with a team. It suits developers who already work in VS Code and want a lightweight alternative to a separate API client.
Strengths
- Requests stored as plain text .http files
- Responses shown directly in the editor
- No separate application to run
Limitations
- Requires Visual Studio Code
- Focused on HTTP requests rather than full API test suites
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source under the MIT licence.
- License
- MIT
- Developer
- Huachao Mao
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Best suited for
- VS Code users who want API requests saved alongside their code
- Categories
- Code editors, API clients
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to REST Client for VS Code
Compare allSoftware that can replace REST Client for VS Code for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
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 necessarily 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.
