What is the difference between Postman and Thunder Client?

Postman is best for API developers wanting a complete API platform, while Thunder Client is best for VS Code users wanting a lightweight API client. Postman starts at Free and Thunder Client starts at Free.

Is Postman or Thunder Client cheaper?

Postman starts at Free with a free tier. Thunder Client starts at Free and is free.

Is there a free alternative to Thunder Client?

Both Postman and Thunder Client offer free tiers.

Postman vs Thunder Client

Postman is API development platform for designing, testing, documenting, and monitoring APIs, while Thunder Client is Lightweight REST API client built into VS Code with collections and environments. Postman is built for api developers wanting a complete api platform, whereas Thunder Client targets vs code users wanting a lightweight api client.

At a glance

	Postman	Thunder Client
Best for	API developers wanting a complete API platform	VS Code users wanting a lightweight API client
Starting price	Free	Free
Free tier	✓	✓
Open source	—	—
Free tier available	✓	✓
Open source	—	—
CLI	—	✓
Collections	✓	✓
Docs	✓	—
Git Sync	—	✓
Mock Servers	✓	—
Monitoring	✓	—
VS Code Extension	—	✓

Postman

Strengths

Includes Collections as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows
Includes Mock Servers as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows
Free for 3 users — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Established product with 14+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in api development
Mobile experience lags behind the desktop version in features and polish

Try Postman → Full review

Thunder Client

Strengths

Includes VS Code Extension as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows
Includes Collections as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows
The core product is free with no paywalled essentials
Includes cli alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

May lack some advanced features
Some advanced features require upgrading to a paid plan
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in api development

Try Thunder Client → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Both Postman and Thunder Client are free. You can try both without spending a dollar.

Feature gaps: Postman offers Docs, Mock Servers and Monitoring that Thunder Client lacks. Thunder Client brings CLI, Git Sync and VS Code Extension that Postman does not have. Both share Collections.

Team fit: Postman is geared toward any size teams, while Thunder Client is aimed at individual users and small setups. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Where each tool shines: Postman's biggest strengths are: includes collections as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows. includes mock servers as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows. Thunder Client's biggest strengths are: includes vs code extension as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows. includes collections as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows.

Watch out for: With Postman, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Thunder Client, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.

Choose Postman if...

You need a tool built for api developers wanting a complete api platform
You specifically need Docs and Mock Servers
You care about includes mock servers as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows
Your team size fits the any size profile Postman is designed for
The free tier works for you: free for 3 users

Choose Thunder Client if...

You need a tool built for vs code users wanting a lightweight api client
You specifically need CLI and Git Sync
You care about includes collections as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows
Your team size fits the individuals profile Thunder Client is designed for