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Charles Proxy

Long-running cross-platform web debugging proxy for viewing and changing HTTP traffic.

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4 of 4
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3
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About Charles Proxy

Charles is a web debugging proxy that sits between your apps and the internet so you can see every HTTP and HTTPS request and response. It has been a standard tool for web and mobile developers for well over a decade, offering SSL proxying, breakpoints for editing requests in flight, rewrite and map rules, throttling to simulate slow networks, and repeat requests. Version 5 brought a refreshed interface, inline search and better performance with large payloads. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux (including Arm builds) and is made by a small independent developer, XK72. You can try it free for 30 days, then buy a per-user license, with volume and site licenses for organisations; each license covers one major version. The interface still feels dated next to newer tools, and there is no scripting API on the level of mitmproxy.

Best for: Developers and QA testers who want a proven GUI proxy at a low one-time price.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Low one-time per-user price
  • Breakpoints, rewrites and bandwidth throttling built in
  • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, including Arm
  • Large body of tutorials from years of use

Why people leave

  • Interface feels dated compared with newer tools
  • No free tier after the 30-day trial
  • License only covers the current major version

Top Charles Proxy alternatives

See all 3
  1. 1Proxyman logo
    Proxyman

    Modern native interface and one-click mobile emulator capture, at a higher price.

    66.5
  2. 2mitmproxy logo
    mitmproxy

    Free and open source, with a Python API for scripted rewrites and automation.

    62.6
  3. 3Requestly logo
    Requestly

    Rule-based request modification and API mocking, with a free tier and browser extension.

    50.3

Why people left Charles Proxy

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Reviews

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Charles Proxy: common questions

Is Charles Proxy free?

No, Charles Proxy is a paid product. Price: USD $50 per user license (checked on Charles Proxy's own site).

Is Charles Proxy open source?

No, Charles Proxy is not open source. Open-source alternatives include mitmproxy.

What platforms does Charles Proxy run on?

Charles Proxy is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to Charles Proxy?

The highest-ranked Charles Proxy alternatives right now are Proxyman, mitmproxy and Requestly. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 3 Charles Proxy alternatives