Charles

Name: Charles
Price: 50 USD

Free trial iPhoneLinuxMacWindows

What Charles is

Charles is a web proxy and HTTP monitor that records and displays traffic sent and received by browsers and other internet applications configured to use it. Developers can inspect HTTP and SSL/HTTPS requests, responses, headers, cookies, and caching information. SSL Proxying places Charles in the communication path so users can examine HTTPS session contents. Requests can be repeated or edited, and breakpoints can intercept and change requests or responses. Charles also supports traffic replay, response mocking, WebSocket inspection, and proxy chaining. Bandwidth throttling and added latency simulate slower connections. JSON, JSON-RPC, and SOAP appear in a simplified tree format; Flash Remoting AMF0 and AMF3 are supported. The iOS app captures HTTP and HTTPS traffic, supports SSL Proxying, and can share individual requests or sessions with desktop Charles. Captured traffic is stored on the user’s computer, and the developers say they cannot access it. The paid software has a 30-day trial and no free plan. Pricing starts at $30 per user. A license generally covers one computer at a time, with a second allowed when the same person uses both installations.

Who it suits

Charles suits developers who need to inspect or modify web traffic from configured applications, including HTTPS sessions. Its iOS app and desktop sharing can support workflows involving traffic captured on an iPhone or iPad.

What it does well

Inspects HTTP and HTTPS requests, responses, and headers.
Breakpoints allow interception and editing.
Simulates slower connections with throttling and latency.
Captured traffic stays on the user’s computer.

What to know first

No free plan is listed.
A license generally covers one computer at a time.
The license applies to a major version and its updates.

Limits

There is no free plan. A license applies to the purchased major version and its updates before the next major version; an upgrade after the three-month free-upgrade window costs 40% of the original fee.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
1-4 User Licenses	License valid for the current major version and its updates · 1-4 users	$50, paid once
10+ User Licenses	USD $30 / license (40% discount) · 10+ licenses · valid for current major version and updates before next major version	$30, paid once
5+ User Licenses	USD $40 / license (20% discount) · 5+ licenses · valid for current major version and updates before next major version	$40, paid once
Site License	USD $400 · Use on any computer at one site · valid for current major version and updates before next major version	$400, paid once
1–4 User Licenses	USD $50 / license · 1–4 licenses · valid for current major version and updates before next major version	$50, paid once
Multi-Site License	USD $700 · Use on any computer at multiple sites · valid for current major version and updates before next major version	$700, paid once

As charlesproxy.com lists them, read 20 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the Charles website
Choose a license plan or start the 30-day trial
Install Charles on iOS, Linux, macOS, or Windows
Configure browsers or internet applications to use the proxy
Enable recording to capture traffic
Use SSL Proxying when HTTPS session inspection is needed

Verdict

Charles offers detailed traffic inspection alongside request editing, replay, and network simulation. It is paid software with a 30-day trial, and buyers should review the computer and major-version limits on licenses.

Questions

How much does Charles cost?

Plans start at USD $50 per license for 1–4 user licenses, with 5+ licenses at USD $40 each and 10+ at USD $30 each. Site licensing is USD $400, and multi-site licensing is USD $700; each is a one-time charge.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. Charles offers a 30-day trial, but no free plan.

Which platforms does Charles support?

Charles runs on iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Where is captured traffic stored?

Captured data is stored on the user’s computer, and the developers say they do not have access to it.

What does one user license allow?

A user license allows use on one computer at a time, with a second computer allowed when the same person uses both installations.

Who develops Charles?

Charles is developed by XK72, whose EULA identifies XK72 Limited at an Auckland, New Zealand address.

Facts from Charles's own pages

Formats and protocols: Charles natively supports JSON, JSON-RPC, and SOAP in a simplified tree format, and supports Flash Remoting AMF0 and AMF3. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Headquarters: Auckland, New Zealand · charlesproxy.com, 28 Sept 2026
HTTPS debugging: SSL Proxying lets Charles act as a man-in-the-middle for HTTP/SSL communication so users can debug HTTPS session contents. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
iOS capabilities: The iOS app captures HTTP and HTTPS traffic, supports SSL Proxying, and can share individual requests or sessions with desktop Charles. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
License scope: A user license allows use on one computer at a time, with a second computer allowed when the same person uses both installations; site licenses cover a site and multi-site licenses cover multiple sites. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Network simulation: Bandwidth throttling and added latency simulate slower internet connections. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Organization: Charles is developed by XK72, and its EULA identifies XK72 Limited at an Auckland, New Zealand address. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Platforms: The desktop application is offered for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and Charles also has an iOS app for capturing traffic on the device. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Privacy and data handling: Charles captures traffic only while recording is enabled and stores captured data on the user's computer; the developers say they do not have access to it. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: Charles is a web proxy and HTTP monitor that runs on your computer and records and displays data sent and received by browsers or other internet applications configured to use it. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Request controls: Users can repeat and edit requests and set breakpoints to intercept and edit requests or responses. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Support: The maker directs users to the documentation and invites them to contact support if documentation does not resolve their issue. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Traffic inspection: Charles lets developers view HTTP and SSL/HTTPS requests, responses, headers, cookies, and caching information. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Updates: A paid license applies to the major version purchased and its updates before the next major version; an upgrade to the next major version is free if released within three months of purchase, otherwise the upgrade fee is 40% of the original fee. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026
Update telemetry: Charles periodically contacts a developer-controlled server to check for updates, sending operating system and Charles version information that is kept in aggregate without personally identifying information. · charlesproxy.com, 4 Oct 2026

Where Charles stands on Freedom251

Web Debugging Proxies#17 of 27