Head-to-head · gRPC Tools
grpcui vs grpcurl
grpcui leads on 0 checks, grpcurl on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoregrpcui · 8.3/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresgrpcui · 1 of 6
grpcui scores higher on our rubric for grpc tools: 8.3 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #7.
grpcui is the better fit for developers wanting a browser-based gRPC client. grpcurl is the better fit for scripted command-line gRPC inspection and invocation.
- grpcui fits best
Developers wanting a browser-based gRPC client
- grpcurl fits best
Scripted command-line gRPC inspection and invocation
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Side by side
| Feature | grpcui 8.3/10 Visit ↗ | grpcurl 8.1/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.3 | 8.1 |
| Ranking | #5 in gRPC Tools | #7 in gRPC Tools |
| Best for | Developers wanting a browser-based gRPC client | Scripted command-line gRPC inspection and invocation |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Open source | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Features grpcui 1/6 · grpcurl 0/6 | ||
| gRPC-Web support | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Server reflection | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Mock server | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Protobuf editor | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Load testing | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| CI integration | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment model | Desktop | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Our verdict | grpcui is an open-source command-line application that serves a browser-based interface for interacting with gRPC servers. It is aimed at developers who need to inspect services and compose requests without relying only on manually… Read the review → |
grpcurl is an open-source command-line client for developers who need to inspect and invoke gRPC services from a desktop environment. It sends and receives JSON-encoded request data, supports unary, client-streaming, server-streaming, and… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
grpcui — where it wins
- Discovers services through reflection, .proto files, or protosets
- Builds dynamic forms for protobuf messages, maps, and oneofs
- Supports plaintext, TLS, mutual TLS, metadata, and response details
Where it doesn't
- Bidirectional streaming RPC methods have limitations
- Focused on request exploration rather than automated testing
- Requires a command-line application to serve the local browser UI
grpcurl — where it wins
- Covers unary and all three gRPC streaming modes
- Supports reflection, .proto files, and protoset descriptors
- Handles TLS, mutual-TLS, plaintext, JSON, and metadata
Where it doesn't
- No automated testing features
- No team workspaces
- Command-line tool rather than a hosted or GUI product
- grpcui8.3/10 · Open source
A focused open-source client for exploring gRPC requests through a local browser UI.
Visit grpcuiFull verdict → - grpcurl8.1/10 · Free plan
A focused, free CLI for inspecting and invoking gRPC services.
Visit grpcurlFull verdict →
More comparisons
- Bandura vs grpcui
- Bandura vs grpcurl
- Kreya vs grpcui
- Kreya vs grpcurl
- FintX vs grpcui
- FintX vs grpcurl
- BloomRPC Extended vs grpcui
- BloomRPC Extended vs grpcurl
All gRPC tools comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update