Thunder Client
Thunder Client is a REST API client that runs inside VS Code and JetBrains IDEs.
What Thunder Client is
Thunder Client is a REST API client that runs inside VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. It lets users create, test, and share API collections with a team, and validate responses through a graphical interface without scripts. Requests and client data are stored locally rather than synced to the cloud, while collections can be saved to Git for collaboration. The free plan is available for VS Code. Paid plans are billed annually per user: Starter is $3.00 per month, Business is $7.00 per month, and Enterprise is $16.00 per month. Their collection-run allowances are 250 per user monthly for Starter, 500 for Business, and unlimited for Enterprise. Paid plans include WebSocket, SSE, and gRPC support, plus the CLI and CI/CD integration. Enterprise also connects to Azure Key Vault and AWS Secrets Manager and encrypts environment values; Free, Starter, and Business store them in plain text. A 14-day trial can be requested using a business email address. Thunder Client is based in Ireland and was founded in 2021.
Good
- Works inside VS Code and JetBrains IDEs.
- Validates responses through a graphical interface.
- Stores request data locally without cloud sync.
- Collections can be saved to Git.
- Paid plans include CLI and CI/CD integration.
Watch out
- Environment values are plain text below Enterprise.
- The 14-day trial requires a business email.
- Paid plans are billed annually per user.
Who it suits
Thunder Client suits developers who want to work with REST APIs from within their IDE and keep request data locally. Teams can use Git-based collection collaboration, while paid plans add protocol support and CI/CD capabilities.
Verdict
Thunder Client keeps API work inside supported IDEs and offers local storage with Git collaboration. Consider the plan-specific run limits and environment-value handling when selecting a tier.
Plans and prices
From Thunder Client's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | VS Code · free version limits · $0 / user / month |
| Starter | $3 a month | 250 Collection Runs · up to 10 seats · credit card only · $3 / user / month · Billed annually |
| Business | $7 a month | 500 Collection Runs · payment by invoice · $7 / user / month · Billed annually |
| Enterprise | $16 a month | Unlimited Collection Runs · SSO has an additional cost · $16 / user / month · Billed annually |
The facts
Each one read from Thunder Client's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- CI/CD
- Paid plans include the Thunder Client CLI and CI/CD integration; the pricing page says CI/CD collection runs are unlimited.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Collection-run limits
- Starter includes 250 and Business 500 local collection runs per user monthly; Enterprise includes unlimited local runs.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Collections
- Users can build, test, and share API collections with their team.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Encrypted environments
- Enterprise can store environment variable values in encrypted format, while Free, Starter, and Business store them in plain text.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Git collaboration
- Users can save collections to a Git repository for team collaboration.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Local storage
- Requests and API client data are stored locally on the user's machine, with no cloud sync.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Paid from
- 3checked 21 Sep 2026
- Privacy
- The extension collects basic anonymized telemetry, but the maker says it collects no personal or request data and allows telemetry opt-out in VS Code settings.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Protocols
- Paid plans include WebSocket, SSE, and gRPC support.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Response testing
- The product supports GUI-based response validation without requiring scripts.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Secret managers
- The Enterprise plan integrates with Azure Key Vault and AWS Secrets Manager to retrieve secrets for request variables.checked 7 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Thunder Client is a lightweight REST API client for testing APIs inside VS Code and JetBrains IDEs.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Company and audience
- Thunder Client says it is a bootstrapped startup based in Dublin, Ireland, founded by Ranga Vadhineni in 2021.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Ireland (EU)checked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- Trial
- A 14-day free trial can be requested, and the maker says it is available only to business email addresses.checked 7 Oct 2026
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