Thunder Client vs Clerk
Thunder Client and Clerk are both popular tools in the API Development space. Both use a freemium pricing model, with Thunder Client starting at Free and Clerk at Free. Both offer a free tier to get started. Below we break down features, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses to help you decide which tool fits your workflow best.
Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Choose Thunder Client if you want lightweight rest api client built directly into vs code.. Thunder Client's biggest strengths include no context switching — api testing in your editor and lightweight and fast compared to desktop apps. Choose Clerk if you prefer modern authentication and user management for developers.. Key advantages include beautiful, production-ready ui components out of the box and excellent developer experience with comprehensive docs. It's also rated higher (4.2 vs 3.9).
Lightweight REST API client built directly into VS Code.
| Thunder Client | Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Rating | ★ 3.9 | ★ 4.2 |
| Categories | API Development | API Development |
| Key Features | 6 features | 6 features |
| Feature | Thunder Client | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| REST API testing inside VS Code | ✓ | — |
| Environment variables and request collections | ✓ | — |
| Test scripting for automated validation | ✓ | — |
| Git-friendly JSON file storage | ✓ | — |
| GraphQL support | ✓ | — |
| Import from Postman, Insomnia, and OpenAPI | ✓ | — |
| Pre-built authentication UI components for React, Next.js, and more | — | ✓ |
| Social login integrations (Google, GitHub, Microsoft, etc.) | — | ✓ |
| Multi-factor authentication and passwordless auth | — | ✓ |
| User management dashboard with search and filtering | — | ✓ |
| Session management and JWT tokens | — | ✓ |
| Customizable authentication flows and branding | — | ✓ |
Thunder Client
Pros
- + No context switching — API testing in your editor
- + Lightweight and fast compared to desktop apps
- + Git-friendly file storage for team collaboration
- + Easy migration from Postman with import feature
Cons
- − Less feature-rich than Postman for complex workflows
- − Advanced features require paid plan
- − VS Code only — not available in other editors
Clerk
Pros
- + Beautiful, production-ready UI components out of the box
- + Excellent developer experience with comprehensive docs
- + Supports all major authentication methods and flows
- + Active development with frequent updates and new features
Cons
- − Pricing can scale quickly with monthly active users
- − Some advanced customization requires paid plans
- − Potential vendor lock-in for core auth infrastructure
The Bottom Line
Choose Thunder Client if: you want lightweight rest api client built directly into vs code.. It's completely free to use. Keep in mind: less feature-rich than postman for complex workflows.
Choose Clerk if: you prefer modern authentication and user management for developers.. It's completely free to use. It holds a higher user rating (4.2 vs 3.9). Keep in mind: pricing can scale quickly with monthly active users.
Both tools compete in the API Development space. The right choice depends on your specific needs, team size, and budget.
ReadMe
Postman
Hoppscotch
Bruno
Swagger
Redocly