Thunder Client
Lightweight REST API client built into VS Code with collections and environments.
Overview
Thunder Client is a lightweight REST API client built into VS Code with collections and environments. It handles vs code extension, collections, cli, and git sync, and it's best suited for vs code users wanting a lightweight api client. It has been around since 2021, giving it a 5-year head start in building out integrations and refining the product.
The core product is entirely free. It's aimed at individual users, so it's fast to set up but may lack team-management features if you scale.
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
Quick info
- Category
- API Development
- Starting price
- Free
- Free tier
- Fully free
- Open source
- No
- Best for
- Individuals
- Founded
- 2021
Last updated 2026-04-12
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