Laurel Proxy vs Proxyman
Proxyman is a polished, macOS-focused GUI with a free tier and paid upgrades. 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 | Proxyman |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source (MIT) | Free tier, plus paid Pro/Team tiers |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux (no Windows) | macOS-focused |
| Interface | CLI, interactive TUI, Web UI, REST API | Native desktop GUI |
| 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 |
| Request breakpoints / live rewriting | No | Yes |
| Bandwidth throttling | Yes — presets or custom rates | Yes |
| Scripting / extensibility | CLI filters and flags only | Limited — GUI-first tool |
| AI agent integration | Claude Code plugin + skill, --format agent output | None built-in |
Where Proxyman is still better
Proxyman is a mature, well-designed native app. Be honest with yourself about these gaps before you switch:
- Request breakpoints. Proxyman can pause a live request or response and let you edit it before it continues. Laurel Proxy only replays already-captured requests after the fact.
- Native macOS polish. Proxyman is a purpose-built macOS menu-bar app. Laurel Proxy's Web UI runs in the browser, not as a native app.
Choose Laurel Proxy if...
- You want a fully free tool with no paid tier to unlock features
- You're on Linux, where Proxyman isn't a fit
- 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 WebSocket capture and bandwidth throttling without a paid tier
Stick with Proxyman if...
- You want a native macOS app rather than a browser-based UI
- 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. Proxyman offers a free tier plus paid Pro and Team tiers for its advanced features.
Does Laurel Proxy have a native GUI like Proxyman?
Laurel Proxy ships a browser-based Web UI with live traffic, filters, and a request repeater, but it's not a native macOS menu-bar app the way Proxyman is.
Can Laurel Proxy fully replace Proxyman?
Not for every workflow. Laurel Proxy is a strong fit if you want a free, terminal-first, AI-agent-friendly proxy on macOS or Linux, and it now captures WebSocket traffic and throttles bandwidth too. Proxyman still wins on request breakpoints and native macOS polish.
Try Laurel Proxy in 10 seconds
Free, open source, MIT licensed. Works on macOS and Linux.
npx laurel-proxy