Side by side
Altair GraphQL Client vs grpcurl
Both stand on api clients. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+3
Altair offers a broad set of GraphQL query and schema tools, with collaboration features through its Cloud offering. Review the web-app limits, introspection warning, and beta CSP support before choosing how to use it.
Visit Altair GraphQL Client Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
Choose grpcurl when you need a free command-line way to invoke gRPC methods, inspect schemas, or work with streaming RPCs. If a server has no reflection, you will need its proto source files or a protoset file to provide the schema.
Visit grpcurlThe facts
| Altair GraphQL Client | grpcurl | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Extension, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Pro: $7.99 per user a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | altairgraphql.dev | github.com |
| On api clients | #12 of 38 | #16 of 38 |
Altair GraphQL Client: what it does well
- Supports queries, mutations, and subscriptions.
- Includes schema documentation browsing.
- Offers pre-request and post-request scripts.
- Cloud adds versioning and shareable query URLs.
- Free Basic plan lists up to 20 queries.
What to know first
- Web app has limitations for full development.
- CSP support is beta.
- Introspection can expose an API schema.
- Maker does not obligate itself to support or update services.
grpcurl: what it does well
- Accepts JSON requests and converts them to protobuf binary format.
- Inspects services, methods, and schema descriptions.
- Supports streaming RPCs, including interactive bidirectional sessions.
- Offers TLS, plaintext, and mutual TLS connection options.
- Provides a Go library package for dynamic gRPC invocation.
What to know first
- Requires proto source or protoset files when a server lacks reflection.
- It is a command-line tool for gRPC rather than GraphQL or WebSocket APIs.
Alternatives to Altair GraphQL Client Alternatives to grpcurl The whole list