gRPC CLI

gRPC CLI is a command-line utility for inspecting gRPC servers and calling their methods. It suits developers comfortable building from source who want service discovery and unary requests from a terminal. Its focused workflow is useful, but the build burden and limited maturity make it less appealing as an everyday client.

Overview

The tool pairs service inspection with basic request-and-response calls. Reflection can expose a server’s services and methods, while support for common authentication and metadata covers routine access needs. Developers already working with the gRPC repository may value that combination; others must weigh it against a source build and documentation that acknowledges shortcomings in user-friendliness.

Key features

• Service discovery: Server reflection lets gRPC CLI list services and methods, making it useful for exploring servers that expose their definitions. Most commands need reflection. If it is unavailable, local proto files can provide service definitions and request or response types.
• Unary calls and metadata: The CLI sends unary RPCs, attaches metadata, displays received metadata, and handles common server authentication. That is enough for straightforward request-and-response work, but not streaming workflows.
• Proto message formats: Requests can be read in text or wire form; responses can be displayed as text or written in wire form to a file. This gives command-line users practical flexibility when supplying inputs or capturing output.
• Build process: The documented route is to build from the gRPC repository source with CMake and the make grpc_cli target. That is manageable for developers familiar with the project’s build process, but a real barrier for anyone expecting a ready-to-run download.

Pricing

gRPC CLI is free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Its sole plan, gRPC CLI, costs nothing and includes a source build and unary RPC calls. The price is straightforward; the trade-off is that getting started requires building the tool yourself.

Platforms

gRPC CLI is listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It is a desktop tool, with command-line access to gRPC services rather than a web interface.

Who it's for

This is a sensible fit for developers who need to inspect reflected gRPC services or make unary calls from a terminal, and who are comfortable compiling software from source. It is a weaker choice for users who want a more polished client, need streaming RPCs, or cannot rely on server reflection or supply local proto files.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Reflection-based service and method discovery; unary calls with metadata and common authentication; local proto-file fallback; flexible text and wire message handling; free, Apache-2.0-licensed software.
• Cons: Requires a CMake source build; most commands rely on server reflection unless local proto files are supplied; streaming is not part of its current core functionality; its documentation says it is not yet up to par in user-friendliness and describes grpcurl as better maintained.

Alternatives

For a broader selection, browse gRPC Tools. Consider grpcui if you prefer an option with Linux, macOS, Windows, self-hosted, and web platform support; its open-source plan is free. Kreya is another free-plan option for individuals, with request history limited to the latest request; it is freemium and not open source.

protoc-gen-doc is a free, MIT-licensed option to consider for Protobuf documentation work. ProtoCall may suit users who want a free app with GitHub imports and manually created workspaces. For static documentation generation, sabledocs is a free open-source generator that requires Python 3.11 or later and a Protobuf descriptor file.

Bandura offers a free plan for personal and commercial use with no account, paid seats, or feature tiers. Evans is another free, open-source gRPC client. FintX has a free open-source plan with unlimited gRPC clients, saved requests, import and export, tabs per method, a JSON editor, and projects.

Verdict

Choose gRPC CLI if you want a free terminal tool for discovering gRPC services and making unary calls, and can build it from source. Its command-line coverage is useful for focused inspection and request work, but look elsewhere if you need streaming or a more user-friendly, actively maintained tool; the documentation itself points to grpcurl as better maintained.