Thunder Client
Thunder Client: A low-cost API testing extension for developers who prefer working in their IDE. Ranked #17 of 33 in API Testing Tools by our editors (7.5/10); pricing: Free plan · 14-day trial; best for budget-conscious developers working inside desktop tooling.
At a glance
- Editor score7.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 14-day trial
- Best forBudget-conscious developers working inside desktop tooling
- Free planYes
- Paid from$3/user/mo
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- REST requests, assertions, schema validation, and data-driven runs
- CLI execution, CI/CD integration, and test report generation
- Imports from Postman, Insomnia, Hoppscotch, and OpenAPI
Where it doesn't
- The Free plan includes version limits
- Starter and Business plans cap monthly collection runs
- Paid plans use annual billing for the listed per-user prices
Our verdict on Thunder Client
Thunder Client is an API client and testing extension for developers working in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. It supports REST request creation and execution, collections, environment variables, GUI-based assertions, JSON schema validation, scripting, and local API client data storage. Developers can organize requests without switching to a separate desktop application, while teams can use Git synchronization and shared team features. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it suitable for individual developers and teams that keep API work close to their coding environment.
The plan structure is straightforward. The Free plan costs $0 per user per month with monthly billing and includes the extension, VS Code support, and free version limits. Starter costs $3 per user per month with annual billing and adds VS Code and JetBrains support, team features, CLI and CI/CD capabilities, and 250 collection runs per user monthly. Business costs $7 per user per month with annual billing and raises that allowance to 500 collection runs per user monthly. Enterprise costs $16 per user per month with annual billing, unlimited collection runs, Enterprise SSO, Secrets Manager integration, and audit logs. A 14-day free trial is also listed.
For automation, Thunder Client can execute requests and collections through its CLI, including from terminals, build servers, and CI/CD pipelines, with report generation. Its integrations include Git, GitHub Actions, Azure Secrets Manager, and AWS Secrets Manager. Collection runners support sequential and parallel execution, while CSV and JSON enable data-driven runs. Import support covers Postman, Insomnia, Hoppscotch, and OpenAPI. The main tradeoff is scope and plan limits: the Free plan is constrained, while Starter and Business cap collection runs. Choose Thunder Client for affordable REST testing inside an IDE; consider another tool if your workflow requires capabilities outside its documented focus.
Your product? Our editors can test Thunder Client in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Thunder Client pricing
All 4 Thunder Client plans and prices →
Thunder Client fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $3/user/mo |
| GraphQL support | Not verified |
| SOAP support | Not verified |
| Scheduled runs | Not verified |
| CI/CD integration | Yes |
| Mock server | Not verified |
| Contract testing | Not verified |
| Included requests | Not verified |
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Compliance & security | GDPR |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan · 14-day trial (source) |
| Website | thunderclient.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Thunder Client
- PostmanA mature API test platform with broad protocol support and a wide feature set.9.3
- ApidogA broad API toolkit for teams that need design, testing, automation, and documentation together.9.2
- SoapUIA broad, free API testing desktop tool for functional, contract, performance, and load work.9.0
See all Thunder Client alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Thunder Client is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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