Comparison

iCurlHTTP vs Charles Proxy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iCurlHTTP

Test web server responses with cURL-like functionality on your iPhone or iPad. Simulate various browsers and inspect raw HTTP headers and HTML. Analyze network performance with detailed timing information.

Highlights
  • Simulate browser user-agents
  • Inspect raw HTTP headers and HTML
  • Support for GET, HEAD, POST, PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS, TRACE requests
  • SSL support with certificate info
  • History of tested URLs
  • Detailed HTTP timing analysis
  • HTTP/2 and IPv4/IPv6 support
Features
Read full description

HTTP Web Server Response Diagnostic Tool - Curl for iPhone and iPad iCurlHTTP is a simple, easy to use app that allows you to run MacOS/Linux-like cURL tests against URLs. It can simulate different web browsers (user-agents) to retrieve the raw HTTP headers and HTML response from web servers. ** GET, HEAD & POST Requests (GET, HEAD, POST, PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS and TRACE on iPad) ** SSL Support - https requests with basic certificate and handshake information ** Keeps a history of URLs tested with HEADER and POST data and provides them in a dropdown for easy repeated testing ** Simulates curl, iPhone, iPad, Safari, IE, Chrome and custom user-agent browsers ** Simple single-view interface with realtime result screen. ** iPhone and iPad support ** Verbose and Basic Detail ** HTTP Timing Details (Name Lookup, TCP Connect, SSL Handshake, First Byte and Total) ** Set custom User-Agent, Host Headers, Timeouts, HTTP Authentication, SSL Mode and POST Data ** Share Feature to send output to Clipboard, Printer and Email ** HTTP/2 Support ** IPv4 and IPv6 DNS Resolution with Option for Manual Address Resolution (via HOST:PORT:ADDRESS)

About

Charles Proxy

Capture and inspect network requests and responses directly on your iOS device. Debug networking issues without needing a computer. View detailed metadata, headers, and bodies, and even transfer sessions to a desktop for further analysis.

Highlights
  • Capture network requests and responses
  • Inspect metadata, headers, and bodies
  • SSL Proxying for plain text viewing
  • Measure network performance
  • Block requests to specific hosts
  • DNS spoofing
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Charles Proxy for iOS lets you capture, inspect and modify network requests and responses on your iOS device. You can view metadata, headers and bodies in the app, so you can finally debug your app’s networking issues without a computer. Charles Proxy for iOS is an app from the creator of Charles Proxy for desktop. HOW IT WORKS Turn Charles on when you want to start capturing. Charles captures your network requests and responses in the background while you test your app or website. Return to Charles to inspect the requests and responses. If you also have Charles on your desktop, you can transfer recorded sessions to your desktop to explore them on the big screen. Charles creates a local VPN on your device. All of your network traffic passes through Charles on your device, and then out to the internet as usual over either WiFi or Mobile / Cellular data. There is no remote server involved, and your data always remains private to you. FEATURES * SSL Proxying to view SSL requests in plain text * View and share request and responses bodies * Syntax highlighting for text request and response bodies * Measure network performance over WiFi or Mobile / Cellular networks * Block requests to nominated hosts * DNS spoofing

Screenshots

iCurlHTTP4 screens
Charles Proxy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iCurlHTTP at Free against Charles Proxy's $8.99. iCurlHTTP also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 52%) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). Charles Proxy's advantage is chart position (#63 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 7 months). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

iCurlHTTP is free to download; Charles Proxy costs $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iCurlHTTP holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Charles Proxy has 185 ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of iCurlHTTP's written reviews are positive against 52% of Charles Proxy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iCurlHTTP ships an update every 7 months, Charles Proxy every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on August 18, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
iCurlHTTP versus Charles Proxy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriCurlHTTPCharles Proxy
PriceFree — better$8.99
Rating4.4 (30 ratings) — better4.0 (185 ratings)
Positive reviews84.4% of reviews — better51.9% of reviews
Number of ratings30185 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#63 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB20 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperJason CoxXK72 Limited

Customer experience

iCurlHTTP

All ratings30 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral3.3%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive84.4%
Neutral6.7%
Negative8.9%

Charles Proxy

All ratings185 ratings
Positive74.6%
Neutral5.4%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews231 reviews
Positive51.9%
Neutral11.7%
Negative36.4%

Bugs and requests

iCurlHTTP

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Charles Proxy

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Doesn't work with latest iOS versions
  • Fails to export sessions frequently
  • Incompatible with apps using VPN
  • Large JSON bodies not displayed properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to edit and replay requests
  • Improve JSON viewer and formatting
  • Add support for WebSockets
  • Provide option to map to local
  • Add scripting and breakpoint features

In-app purchases

None

iCurlHTTP

No in-app purchases

None

Charles Proxy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iCurlHTTP free?
iCurlHTTP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Charles Proxy free?
Charles Proxy costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iCurlHTTP or Charles Proxy?
iCurlHTTP is rated higher. iCurlHTTP averages 4.4 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Charles Proxy averages 4.0 from 185 ratings.
Do iCurlHTTP or Charles Proxy have ads?
Neither iCurlHTTP nor Charles Proxy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iCurlHTTP or Charles Proxy?
iCurlHTTP ships an update every 7 months, and Charles Proxy every 4 months. Most recently, iCurlHTTP was updated on August 18, 2026 and Charles Proxy on September 24, 2026.

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