The best HTTP debugging proxies, according to hackers
3 HTTP debugging proxies were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 2 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The two most recommended HTTP debugging proxies with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Inspects raw HTTP and HTTPS traffic
Used for inspecting raw HTTP and HTTPS traffic from apps and mobile; one-time purchase. Critics say UI changes confuse and Proxyman is better on macOS.
Scriptable with Python
Free HTTP and HTTPS interception proxy that people trust for inspecting and modifying traffic, with Python scripting. Common caveats: terminal keybindings are hard to learn, and not all workflows work yet.
All 3 HTTP debugging proxies, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Proxy | 30 | 15 | 67% | 5 | 10 yrs4 owners | Approved |
| 2 | mitmproxy | 27 | 9 | 75% | 7 | — | Approved |
| 3 | Proxyman | 20 | 4 | 83% | 3 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same HTTP debugging proxy in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to HTTP debugging proxies that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.