PolyApiIDE and Thunder Client

It comes down to where you work: sending requests from the code editor or from the browser beside the app.

Thunder Client is a light VS Code extension, so you never leave the editor while writing code. Paid features are subscription based and the free tier comes with limits.

PolyApiIDE solves the same problem in the browser: the app in one tab, the client in another. That fits better when you are checking a frontend or a third-party API rather than editing the service itself. Thunder Client collections import on the free tier.

Side by side

Topic	PolyApiIDE	Thunder Client
Where it runs	Browser extension for Chrome / Edge / Chromium and Firefox	VS Code extension
Working context	Next to the app open in your browser	Next to the code in your editor
Editor required	No, a browser is enough	Yes, the tool lives inside VS Code
Free tier	Free with no account: requests, collections, environments and every import	Free tier with limits
Paid features	Monthly, yearly or a one-time Lifetime license	Paid features by subscription
Protocols	REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, SOAP, SSE, gRPC via JSON transcoding	A light HTTP client inside the editor
Imports	OpenAPI, WSDL, GraphQL SDL and introspection, .proto, AsyncAPI, Postman, curl, Insomnia, Hoppscotch and Thunder Client collections — on the free tier	Its own collections and common formats
Variables	Request → collection → space → environment, and empty values are never applied	Environments and collection variables
QA and load	QA checks on requests, scenarios, Functional runner, load profiles, PDF reports	Built for lightness rather than load runs
Where data lives	Locally in the browser; the cloud only on your command	Locally on the developer machine
Interface language	English and Russian	English only
Active sessions	Up to 2 on free, 1 on a demo key, up to 5 per paid key	Per vendor subscription terms

Thunder Client details verified on 2026-10-20.

Choose PolyApiIDE when

Your work happens in the browser: a frontend, a third-party API or a staging environment, and switching to the editor only gets in the way.
VS Code is not your tool — another IDE, another editor, or not development at all but QA and integrations.
You need SOAP with WSDL import, GraphQL introspection, AsyncAPI or gRPC via JSON transcoding.
You need scenarios, a Functional runner, load profiles and PDF reports in the same window.
You prefer a one-time Lifetime license to another subscription.

Stay on Thunder Client when

You live in VS Code: editor, terminal and requests in one window saves real hours.
Collections should sit in the project folder and go into the repository with the code.
You want the lightest possible client: open, send, close, with no extra panels.
The browser is not part of your loop — you write backend code and check endpoints as you go.
The current free tier limits are fine and there is nothing you need to pay for.

Moving collections from Thunder Client

1. Export the collection in VS Code

In Thunder Client export the collection to a file, and export environment variables too if they are kept separately.

2. Import the file into PolyApiIDE

In the collections panel choose import and the Thunder Client format. Import is included in the free tier.

3. Verify variable substitution

Both {{var}} and {var} are supported in URLs, bodies and headers. Open "Applied variables": empty values are not applied and will not overwrite the environment.

4. Set up the two-window flow

Open the extension beside the app tab. Then attach QA checks to key requests and group them into a scenario you can run by hand or through a load profile.

Frequently asked

Can I use both tools?

Yes. Many people keep Thunder Client for checks while coding and use PolyApiIDE for browser debugging, QA scenarios and load runs.

Do Thunder Client collections transfer cleanly?

Requests, headers and bodies come across on import. Review the variables by hand: our hierarchy is request → collection → space → environment.

Is a PolyApiIDE account required?

No. The free tier and request sending work without registration. A 24-hour demo key for paid features arrives by email.

How many devices can I use?

Up to two active sessions on the free tier, one on a demo key, up to five per key on paid plans.

Is there load testing?

Yes, load profiles and PDF reports on paid tiers. That is a notable difference: Thunder Client is not aimed at load runs.

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Quick start Sample files for import Pricing