Side by side
grpcurl vs httpYac
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 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 grpcurl
Free plan ExtensionSelf-hosted
Choose httpYac if you want a free way to create API requests in VS Code or run and test them from the CLI. Its notebook documentation and CI-focused CLI also suit those workflows. Cookie storage is limited to memory, and the listed platform availability is desktop.
Visit httpYacThe facts
| grpcurl | httpYac | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Extension, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | httpyac.github.io |
| On api clients | #16 of 38 | #20 of 38 |
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.
httpYac: what it does well
- Free plan costs nothing.
- Runs REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and gRPC requests.
- CLI runs request files individually or by folder.
- JavaScript assertions can check API responses.
- Supports OAuth2, AWS, Basic, Digest, and SSL certificates.
What to know first
- Available platforms are listed as desktop.
- Cookies are stored only in memory.
Alternatives to grpcurl Alternatives to httpYac The whole list