GripMock vs gRPC CLI

GripMock is a mock server for gRPC services that returns responses defined in YAML or JSON without requiring a backend. It supports unary, server-streaming, client-streaming, and bidirectional calls. Stubs can match request inputs and headers using rules such as equals, contains, matches, anyOf, and glob; dynamic templates can form responses from request payloads, headers, and stream position. Stubs can also return gRPC status errors or delayed responses for timeout testing. The web dashboard lists used and unused stubs and allows them to be created, edited, or deleted while the server runs. GripMock loads .proto files or compiled .pb descriptors, including descriptors supplied to a running server, and can start from a Buf Schema Registry module reference. Deployment options include Docker, release binaries, Homebrew, shell scripts, and Go; a Go SDK embeds it in a test process. It also supports native TLS, optional mutual TLS, OTLP traces, a /metrics endpoint, and MCP endpoints for AI agents. It is free and MIT-licensed.

gRPC CLI is a free, open-source command-line tool in the gRPC repository for inspecting services and calling remote methods. It can send unary RPCs, attach metadata to requests, display metadata received from a server, and handle common server authentication. With server reflection, it can list services and methods; when reflection is unavailable, local proto files can supply service definitions and request or response types. Requests can be read in proto text or wire form. Responses can be displayed as text or written to a file in wire form. Streaming RPC support is described as a desired capability, not part of the documented core functionality. The tool runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, but must be built from repository source. The documented process uses CMake and the `make grpc_cli` build target. Its documentation describes the tool as not yet up to par in user-friendliness and says grpcurl is better maintained in its current state. The gRPC repository identifies its license as Apache-2.0.