Laurel Proxy vs mitmproxy
Both are free and open source. mitmproxy is a scriptable Python toolkit for anyone who wants full programmatic control. Laurel Proxy is a ready-made CLI, Web UI, and REST API tuned for developer and AI-agent workflows out of the box. Here's an honest comparison.
npx laurel-proxyFeature comparison
| Feature | Laurel Proxy | mitmproxy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source (MIT) | Free, open source |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux (no Windows) | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| Interface | CLI, interactive TUI, Web UI, REST API | CLI/TUI (mitmproxy), Web UI (mitmweb), headless (mitmdump) |
| HTTPS interception | Yes — local root CA | Yes — local root CA |
| WebSocket capture | Yes — capture, replay, and follow | Yes |
| HTTP/2 support | Yes — ALPN-negotiated independently with client and origin | Yes |
| Live interception / rewriting | No | Yes — pause and edit flows, or automate it with scripts |
| Scripting / extensibility | CLI filters and flags only | Yes — full Python addon API (core strength) |
| AI agent integration | Claude Code plugin + skill, --format agent output | None built-in |
| Setup for a Web UI | Built in, no config | mitmweb included, but less feature-rich than a dedicated dashboard |
Where mitmproxy is still better
mitmproxy is the most mature open-source MITM tool around, with a decade-plus of development behind it. Be honest with yourself about these gaps before you switch:
- Python scripting. mitmproxy's addon API lets you write arbitrary interception, rewriting, and automation logic in Python. Laurel Proxy has no scripting layer — you get CLI filters and a REST API, not a programming interface.
- Live interception. mitmproxy can pause a flow mid-transit and edit it manually or via a script before it's forwarded. Laurel Proxy only replays already-captured requests after the fact.
- Windows support. mitmproxy runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Laurel Proxy does not support Windows.
Choose Laurel Proxy if...
- You want a ready-made Web UI and REST API without writing any code
- You debug with Claude Code and want a plugin plus
--format agentoutput out of the box - You want a simple, queryable local history (SQLite) instead of flow files
- You don't need to script custom interception logic
Stick with mitmproxy if...
- You need to script custom interception or rewriting logic in Python
- You need Windows support
- You want the most mature, widely adopted open-source MITM tool and its addon ecosystem
Frequently asked questions
Aren't Laurel Proxy and mitmproxy both free?
Yes. Both are free and open source, so price isn't the differentiator here — workflow is. mitmproxy is a scriptable Python toolkit; Laurel Proxy is a ready-made CLI, Web UI, and AI-agent integration with nothing to script.
Does Laurel Proxy support Python scripting like mitmproxy?
No. Laurel Proxy has no scripting API. It offers structured CLI filters and a REST API instead, but nothing like mitmproxy's addon system for writing custom interception logic.
Which one should an AI coding agent use?
Laurel Proxy is purpose-built for this: it ships a Claude Code plugin and skill, plus a --format agent CLI output with decoded bodies and an is_error flag. mitmproxy has no native agent integration, though its Python API could be scripted to build something similar.
Try Laurel Proxy in 10 seconds
Free, open source, MIT licensed. Works on macOS and Linux.
npx laurel-proxy