Best Lightweight Thunder Client Alternatives for VSCode in 2025
Hey there, coders! If you're like me, you've spent tons of hours testing APIs. Postman is great, but it's kinda heavy. Sometimes you need something lighter and more integrated. Check out these awesome API testing plugins for your favorite code editors. Let’s dive in!
Comparison Table 📊
| Plugin Name | Platform | Price | Lightweight | No Login Required | Ease of Use | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EchoAPI | VSCode | Free | Yes | Yes | User-friendly, simple, powerful | API Management, Debugging, API Flows, Data Integration |
| Insomnia | Standalone & Plugin | Free & Paid | Yes | No | Intuitive layout, easy to use | GraphQL Support, Env Variables, Team Collaboration |
| REST Client | VSCode | Free | Yes | Yes | Simple interface | Supports various HTTP requests, direct with source code |
| Thunder Client | VSCode | Free/Paid | Yes | Yes | User-friendly, Postman-like | Lightweight, simple API testing |
Plugin Highlights 🎉
EchoAPI for VSCode
Price: Totally free, all features included.
Lightweight: It’s a VSCode plugin, so no extra installation headaches.
No Login Required: No need to remember yet another set of login details. Just install and go.
Ease of Use: Super intuitive and powerful. Great for quick tests and detailed debugging.
Unique Features:
- API Management and Debugging: Handles everything from simple to complex scenarios.
- API Flows: Step-by-step debugging and inspection.
- Data Integration: Syncs data with EchoAPI SaaS, making team collaboration easy.
Insomnia
Price: Free version available; premium options too.
Lightweight: Use it as a standalone client or plugin.
No Login Required: You will need to log in, though.
Ease of Use: Very intuitive layout and supports advanced features.
Unique Features:
- GraphQL Support: Native support for GraphQL queries.
- Environment Variables Management: Easy to manage variables for different environments.
- Team Collaboration: Premium version supports team features.
REST Client for VSCode
Price: Free.
Lightweight: Integrated straight into VSCode.
No Login Required: No cumbersome logins required.
Ease of Use: Simple and straightforward, right from VSCode.
Unique Features:
- Supports various HTTP request types.
- Works directly with your source code for quick adjustments.
Thunder Client for VSCode
Price: Free, some paid options.
Lightweight: Another seamless VSCode integration.
No Login Required: No need for a login to get started.
Ease of Use: Feels like a lightweight Postman inside your VSCode.
Unique Features:
- Simple and efficient for day-to-day API testing.
- Great for verifying API functionality quickly.
❗️❗️*** Recently, Thunder Client updated their business plan and made corresponding changes to their product. However, this move has received a lot of negative feedback across the internet. We encourage you to exercise caution when using the product and make your choice wisely. ***
Conclusion 🏁
If you're looking for a top-notch API testing and debugging tool that fits right into your development environment, give EchoAPI a try. It's free, powerful, and incredibly easy to use. Perfect for those of us who want everything in one place without the extra bloat.
Download EchoAPI for VSCode today, and you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. Happy coding! 😄Regenerate
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