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curl

by curl

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What curl is

curl is free and open-source software consisting of a command-line tool and the libcurl library for transferring data with URLs. It runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with desktop availability listed. The project supports many protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, SMTP, IMAP, MQTT, and WebSocket. HTTP functions include GET, POST, and PUT requests, cookies, custom headers, redirects, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, HSTS, and Alt-Svc. Listed TLS capabilities cover versions 1.0 through 1.3, mutual authentication, OCSP stapling, ECH, key pinning, and session resumption. Users can set transfer limits, detect stalls, retry requests, apply timeouts, and run transfers in parallel or serially. libcurl provides a stable API and ABI, persistent connections, proxy chaining, IPv6, DNS-over-HTTPS, and rate limiting. The project mainly distributes source packages, while external organizations provide other packages. Documentation, mailing lists, chat, videos, and the free Everything curl book support users.

Who it suits

curl suits developers and administrators working with URL-based transfers in commands, scripts, or software. libcurl is relevant when applications or devices need an embedded transfer library.

What it does well

  • Free and open-source software
  • Supports many transfer protocols
  • Offers HTTP/2 and HTTP/3
  • Provides extensive TLS features
  • Includes libcurl for embedded use

What to know first

  • Mainly provides source packages
  • Other packages come from external providers
  • No free trial is listed
  • Commercial support is separate

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
curlFree and open source software; transfers data using URLsFree

As curl.se lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

curl provides broad protocol coverage and detailed transfer controls across major operating systems. Its command-line tool and libcurl library support both direct scripting and embedded software use.

Facts from curl's own pages

Commercial support
Commercial support through wolfSSL includes customization, ports, feature development, patch maintenance, bug fixing, security scanning, and options up to 24/7 support. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Community support
The project provides documentation, mailing lists, IRC or chat, videos, and a free online book called Everything curl. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Distribution
The curl project mostly provides source packages, while other packages are provided by external people and organizations. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Founded
1998 · curl.se, 28 Sept 2026
Free plan
Yes · curl.se, 20 Sept 2026
HTTP features
Its HTTP capabilities include GET, POST, PUT, cookies, custom headers, redirects, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, HSTS, and Alt-Svc. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Latest release
The page lists curl 8.22.0 as the latest stable version, released on 2026-09-02. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Library capabilities
libcurl provides a stable API and ABI and supports features such as persistent connections, proxy chaining, IPv6, DNS-over-HTTPS, and transfer rate limiting. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Platforms
The downloads page lists packages for Linux, macOS, iOS, and 32-bit and 64-bit Windows, among many other systems. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Protocols
curl supports protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, SMTP, IMAP, MQTT, WebSocket, and many others. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose
curl is a command line tool and library for transferring data with URLs. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Security features
Listed TLS features include versions 1.0–1.3, mutual authentication, OCSP stapling, ECH, key pinning, and session resumption. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Security reporting
The project asks people who find or suspect a security problem in curl or libcurl to file a detailed report and links to a table of vulnerable versions. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Transfer controls
The project lists transfer and request rate limits, stall detection, retries, timeouts, and parallel or serial transfers. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
Use cases
The project says curl is used in command lines and scripts, while libcurl is embedded in a wide range of devices and software applications. · curl.se, 11 Oct 2026
WebSocket support
Yes · curl.se, 20 Sept 2026

Where curl stands on Freedom251

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