AppBreakup
Submit an app

REST Client for VS Code alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave REST Client for VS Code: no assertions or collection runner, and development has slowed. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces REST Client for VS Code, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. httpYac currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1httpYac logohttpYacOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 466.5
2Thunder Client logoThunder ClientFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux5 of 562.6
3Bruno logoBrunoOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux3 of 361.8
4Hurl logoHurlOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Windows4 of 457.2
5Postman logoPostmanFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +10 of 347.0
  1. httpYac logo

    1. httpYacTop pick

    Best for: Developers who keep requests as .http files and want scripting and more protocols

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from REST Client for VS Code

    Same .http format with more protocols, scripting and a CLI for CI.

    Pros

    • Plain .http files in your repo
    • Many protocols, including gRPC and MQTT
    • Same files run in VS Code and CI
    • Free, MIT licensed

    Cons

    • No form-based interface
    • Single maintainer
    • Docs assume technical comfort
    Visit httpYac Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is httpYac a good REST Client for VS Code alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    HTTP, gRPC, WebSocket, MQTT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    CLI
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    CI use
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026httpyac.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Thunder Client logo

    2. Thunder Client

    Best for: Developers who want to test APIs without leaving VS Code or a JetBrains IDE

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from REST Client for VS Code

    A form-based client inside VS Code with collections and tests.

    Pros

    • Runs inside VS Code and JetBrains IDEs
    • Requests can live in your Git repository
    • Cheap individual plan
    • WebSocket, SSE and gRPC support

    Cons

    • Free tier has usage limits
    • Some formerly free features now need a paid plan
    • Less suited to very large collections
    Visit Thunder Client Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Thunder Client a good REST Client for VS Code alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starter plan
    $3 per user/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
    IDEs
    VS Code, JetBrains
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2021
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Downloads
    7 million+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Bruno logo

    3. Bruno

    Best for: Developers who want API collections stored in Git, offline

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from REST Client for VS Code

    A desktop app that also keeps requests as plain files in Git.

    Pros

    • Collections are plain files in Git
    • No cloud account required
    • Imports Postman collections

    Cons

    • No built-in cloud collaboration
    • Younger plugin ecosystem
    Visit Bruno Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Bruno a good REST Client for VS Code alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline-first
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026usebruno.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Git-friendly
    Collections stored as files
    Checked Oct 24, 2026usebruno.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Hurl logo

    4. Hurl

    Best for: Developers who want readable, plain-text API tests that run in CI

    Open sourceLinux, macOS, Windows

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from REST Client for VS Code

    Plain-text request files with assertions that run in CI.

    Pros

    • Plain-text files that diff well in Git
    • Assertions, captures and chained requests
    • Fast, built on libcurl
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • No graphical interface
    • Text format to learn for complex flows
    • Not suited to exploring APIs interactively
    Visit Hurl Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Hurl a good REST Client for VS Code alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Format
    Plain text
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hurl.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hurl.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Maintainer
    Orange
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Postman logo

    5. Postman

    Best for: Teams that want a full API lifecycle platform

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux

    47.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from REST Client for VS Code

    A full platform when you need tests, mocks and team workspaces.

    Pros

    • Covers design, testing, docs and monitoring
    • Supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC
    • Huge public API network

    Cons

    • Pushes cloud accounts and sync
    • Heavy for simple request testing
    Visit Postman Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1530
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Postman a good REST Client for VS Code alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Not checked yetpostman.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket
    Not checked yetpostman.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
    Not checked yetpostman.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best REST Client for VS Code alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

httpYac logo

Best REST Client for VS Code alternative for most people

httpYac

Same .http format with more protocols, scripting and a CLI for CI.

Bruno logo

Best REST Client for VS Code alternative for a free option

Bruno

A desktop app that also keeps requests as plain files in Git.

Thunder Client logo

Best REST Client for VS Code alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Thunder Client

A form-based client inside VS Code with collections and tests.

Hurl logo

Best REST Client for VS Code alternative for open source

Hurl

Plain-text request files with assertions that run in CI.

Postman logo

Best REST Client for VS Code alternative for Mac

Postman

A full platform when you need tests, mocks and team workspaces.

httpYac logo

Best REST Client for VS Code alternative for Windows

httpYac

Same .http format with more protocols, scripting and a CLI for CI.

httpYac logo

Best REST Client for VS Code alternative for Linux

httpYac

Same .http format with more protocols, scripting and a CLI for CI.

Postman logo

Best REST Client for VS Code alternative for working in the browser

Postman

A full platform when you need tests, mocks and team workspaces.

REST Client for VS Code alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to REST Client for VS Code?

httpYac ranks first right now. Same .http format with more protocols, scripting and a CLI for CI. Thunder Client and Bruno follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to REST Client for VS Code?

Yes. httpYac (open source), Thunder Client (free plan + paid), Bruno (open source) and Hurl (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to REST Client for VS Code?

Yes: httpYac, Bruno and Hurl.

Which REST Client for VS Code alternatives work on Linux?

httpYac, Thunder Client, Bruno, Hurl and Postman run on Linux.

Why do people switch from REST Client for VS Code?

The complaints we hear most: no assertions or collection runner; development has slowed; works only in VS Code.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces REST Client for VS Code, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.