gRPC CLI vs grpcurl
gRPC CLI
grpc.github.iogrpcurl
github.comSide by side
| Figure | gRPC CLI | grpcurl |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · gRPC Tools | 8.1 (#5) | 8.0 (#10) |
| License | The gRPC repository identifies its license as Apache-2.0. | The repository identifies its license as MIT. |
| Platforms | The documentation mentions Windows, Mac, and Linux in its proto-path instructions. | The README mentions macOS Homebrew and third-party packages for Windows and Linux distributions. |
| Purpose | gRPC CLI is a command-line tool included in the gRPC repository for interacting with gRPC servers. | grpcurl is a command-line tool for interacting with gRPC servers and invoking RPC methods. |
| Streaming | The documentation lists streaming RPC support as a desired capability, rather than among the tool’s current core functionality. | It supports streaming RPCs, including interactive bidirectional streaming through a terminal and stdin. |
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.