gRPC CLI vs gRPC Studio
gRPC CLI
grpc.github.iogRPC Studio
github.comSide by side
| Figure | gRPC CLI | gRPC Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · gRPC Tools | 8.1 (#5) | 7.1 (#20) |
| Authentication | The documented core functionality includes handling common authentication to a server. | The backend supports outbound metadata auth plugins, and the web UI can optionally use Microsoft Entra ID authentication. |
| Intended users | The documentation describes use by people inspecting gRPC services and calling remote methods from the command line. | The project is for people exploring and invoking gRPC services; its quick start recommends connecting it to a reflection-enabled server. |
| License | The gRPC repository identifies its license as Apache-2.0. | The repository identifies the project as BSD-3-Clause licensed. |
| Prerequisite | Most commands need server reflection, though local proto files can be used as an alternative. | The target gRPC server must support server reflection for service discovery. |
| Purpose | gRPC CLI is a command-line tool included in the gRPC repository for interacting with gRPC servers. | gRPC Studio is a reflection-based UI for exploring and calling gRPC services. |
| Service discovery | It can list services and methods through server reflection, and infer request and response types from reflection results. | It discovers services through gRPC reflection v1 and v1alpha. |
Plans
In their own words
gRPC CLI
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.
gRPC Studio
gRPC Studio has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.