Laurel Proxy vs Charles Proxy
Charles Proxy is a mature, paid GUI tool with request breakpoints and Windows support. Laurel Proxy is a free, open-source, terminal-first proxy built for developers and AI agents. Here's an honest comparison.
npx laurel-proxyFeature comparison
| Feature | Laurel Proxy | Charles Proxy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source (MIT) | Paid, commercial license |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux (no Windows) | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Interface | CLI, interactive TUI, Web UI, REST API | Desktop GUI |
| HTTPS interception | Yes — local root CA | Yes — SSL Proxying with root CA |
| WebSocket capture | Yes — capture, replay, and follow | Yes |
| HTTP/2 support | Yes — ALPN-negotiated independently with client and origin | Yes |
| Request breakpoints / live rewriting | No | Yes |
| Bandwidth throttling | Yes — presets or custom rates | Yes |
| Scripting / extensibility | CLI filters and flags only | Rewrite rules, Map Local/Remote (no scripting API) |
| AI agent integration | Claude Code plugin + skill, --format agent output | None built-in |
Where Charles Proxy is still better
Laurel Proxy is not trying to out-feature a 20-year-old commercial tool. Be honest with yourself about these gaps before you switch:
- Request breakpoints. Charles can pause a live request or response mid-flight and let you edit it before it continues. Laurel Proxy only replays already-captured requests after the fact.
- Windows support. Charles runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Laurel Proxy does not support Windows.
Choose Laurel Proxy if...
- You're on macOS or Linux and want a free, open-source tool
- You or your AI agent want to query traffic from a terminal or REST API
- You debug with Claude Code and want
--format agentoutput - You want a queryable local history without manual session files
- You want WebSocket capture and bandwidth throttling without a paid license
Stick with Charles Proxy if...
- You need Windows support
- You need breakpoints to pause and edit live requests
Frequently asked questions
Is Laurel Proxy really free?
Yes. Laurel Proxy is free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid tier. Charles Proxy is commercial software.
Does Laurel Proxy run on Windows?
No. Laurel Proxy supports macOS and Linux only. Charles Proxy also runs on Windows.
Can Laurel Proxy fully replace Charles Proxy?
Not for every workflow. Laurel Proxy is a strong fit for terminal-first and AI-agent-assisted debugging, and it now captures WebSocket traffic, throttles bandwidth, and negotiates HTTP/2 with both client and origin automatically. It still has no request breakpoints — Charles wins there.
Try Laurel Proxy in 10 seconds
Free, open source, MIT licensed. Works on macOS and Linux.
npx laurel-proxy