{
  "@context": [
    "https://schema.org",
    {
      "nuanyue": "https://www.nuanyue.com/ns#"
    }
  ],
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "@id": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/charles/#software",
  "name": "Charles",
  "description": "Cross-platform web debugging proxy for viewing HTTP and SSL/HTTPS traffic between your machine and the internet, sold as a one-time licence.",
  "url": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/charles/",
  "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/charles/",
  "operatingSystem": "macOS",
  "applicationCategory": "UtilitiesApplication",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.charlesproxy.com/"
  ],
  "softwareVersion": "5.2.1",
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "price": "50",
    "priceCurrency": "USD"
  },
  "nuanyue:record": {
    "schemaVersion": 1,
    "id": "software:charles",
    "slug": "charles",
    "name": "Charles",
    "type": "SoftwareApplication",
    "entityType": "HTTP debugging proxy",
    "description": "Cross-platform web debugging proxy for viewing HTTP and SSL/HTTPS traffic between your machine and the internet, sold as a one-time licence.",
    "shortDescription": "Cross-platform HTTP and HTTPS debugging proxy.",
    "answer": "Charles is an HTTP proxy, monitor and reverse proxy that lets a developer see all of the HTTP and SSL/HTTPS traffic passing between their machine and the internet, including the requests, the responses and the HTTP headers that carry cookies and caching information. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, so the same tool and the same licence work across platforms. A licence is a one-time purchase of $50 for a single user, with volume pricing that drops to $30 per licence at ten or more, and site licences for whole organisations. There is a 30-day trial. A licence covers the current major version and all updates to it, so moving to a new major version later means paying an upgrade fee. It suits developers who need to inspect and manipulate HTTP traffic, particularly across a mixed-platform team.",
    "page": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/charles/",
    "dataUrl": "https://www.nuanyue.com/data/software/charles.json",
    "categories": [
      "networking"
    ],
    "tags": [],
    "platform": [
      "macOS"
    ],
    "architecture": [],
    "featured": false,
    "pricing": "one-time",
    "pricingDescription": "One-time licence purchase. A single user licence is $50; 5 or more licences drop to $40 each and 10 or more to $30 each. A Site License is $400 and a Multi-Site License $700. A licence is valid for the current major version (5.x) and all updates to it, but not the next major version; an upgrade costs 40% of the original price, and is free if the next major version ships within three months of purchase. A 30-day trial is available.",
    "price": {
      "amount": 50,
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    "currentVersion": "5.2.1",
    "openSource": false,
    "website": "https://www.charlesproxy.com/",
    "download": "https://www.charlesproxy.com/assets/release/5.2.1/charles-proxy-5.2.1.dmg",
    "features": [
      "HTTP proxy, monitor and reverse proxy in one application",
      "Views all HTTP and SSL/HTTPS traffic between the machine and the internet",
      "Shows requests, responses and HTTP headers, including cookies and caching information",
      "Reverse proxy mode for inspecting traffic from remote clients",
      "Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux from the same licence",
      "Volume and site licensing for teams and organisations"
    ],
    "useCases": [
      "Inspecting the HTTPS traffic an application sends and receives",
      "Debugging caching and cookie behaviour by reading the HTTP headers",
      "Watching traffic from a remote device through reverse proxy mode",
      "Standardising on one debugging proxy across a mixed Windows, Mac and Linux team"
    ],
    "formats": [],
    "integrations": [],
    "pros": [
      {
        "text": "Views HTTP and SSL/HTTPS traffic in full, including requests, responses and the HTTP headers carrying cookies and caching information.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Works as a proxy, a monitor and a reverse proxy from one application.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, so one licence and one tool cover a mixed-platform team.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Is a one-time purchase with volume discounts, rather than a subscription.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "A 30-day trial allows evaluation before purchase.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "cons": [
      {
        "text": "A licence covers only the current major version; moving to the next major version costs 40% of the original price.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Closed source, so the proxy and its certificate handling cannot be inspected.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Site licences are priced per site, so a multi-site organisation needs the more expensive Multi-Site License.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Reading HTTPS traffic requires trusting an intercepting certificate, which weakens the device's security while installed.",
        "status": "derived",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "whoIsItFor": [
      "Developers who need a cross-platform HTTP debugging proxy rather than a Mac-only one",
      "Organisations that want site licensing rather than per-seat subscriptions"
    ],
    "notFor": [
      "Anyone who needs an open-source proxy they can inspect — Charles is closed source",
      "Users who want a perpetual licence across major versions, since a licence covers one major version"
    ],
    "limitations": [
      "Closed source, so the proxy implementation cannot be audited",
      "A licence covers the current major version only; upgrading to the next major version costs 40% of the original price",
      "Reading HTTPS traffic requires trusting an intercepting certificate on the device",
      "The minimum macOS version is not stated in the sources Nuanyue tracks"
    ],
    "firstUse": {
      "installation": {
        "value": "A macOS disk image is published by the vendor, alongside Windows and Linux builds.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "firstLaunch": {
        "value": "Runs in a 30-day trial without a licence key; a key is entered to continue afterwards.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "systemIntegration": {
        "value": "Configures itself as the system HTTP proxy so that application traffic passes through it.",
        "status": "derived",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "appleSilicon": {
        "value": null,
        "status": "unknown"
      }
    },
    "updates": [],
    "faq": [
      {
        "question": "How much does Charles cost?",
        "answer": "A single user licence is $50 as a one-time purchase. Five or more licences cost $40 each and ten or more cost $30 each. A Site License is $400 and a Multi-Site License $700.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Is there a free trial of Charles?",
        "answer": "Yes. You can try Charles for 30 days before purchasing a licence, which the vendor provides so you can evaluate it before deciding.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Does a Charles licence include future versions?",
        "answer": "Not major versions. A licence is valid for the current major version, 5.x, and all updates to it, but not the next major version. An upgrade costs 40% of the original price, and is free if the next major version is released within three months of your purchase.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Which platforms does Charles run on?",
        "answer": "Windows, macOS and Linux. The vendor describes it as a web debugging proxy for all three.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "relationships": [
      {
        "target": "proxyman",
        "type": "competitor",
        "reason": "Both are paid HTTP debugging proxies with HTTPS decryption, but Charles is cross-platform and Java-based while Proxyman is a native Mac-only application.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "mitmproxy",
        "type": "alternative",
        "reason": "Both intercept and inspect HTTP traffic, but mitmproxy is free and open source with a Python scripting API while Charles is a paid graphical application.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "wireshark",
        "type": "complements",
        "reason": "Charles shows the HTTP layer, including headers and cookies, while Wireshark shows the packets beneath it across every protocol.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "sources": [
      {
        "id": "charles:official",
        "type": "official_website",
        "url": "https://www.charlesproxy.com/",
        "title": "Charles — official website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "id": "software:charles.isA",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "isA",
        "value": "HTTP debugging proxy",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.supportsPlatform",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "supportsPlatform",
        "value": [
          "macOS"
        ],
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.officialWebsite",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "officialWebsite",
        "value": "https://www.charlesproxy.com/",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.listedInCategory",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "listedInCategory",
        "value": [
          "networking"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.pricingModel",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "pricingModel",
        "value": "One-time purchase",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.price",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "price",
        "value": "USD 50",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.ownership",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "ownership",
        "value": "Third-party product — not published by Nuanyue",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.currentVersion",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "currentVersion",
        "value": "5.2.1",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.hasFeature",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "hasFeature",
        "value": [
          "HTTP proxy, monitor and reverse proxy in one application",
          "Views all HTTP and SSL/HTTPS traffic between the machine and the internet",
          "Shows requests, responses and HTTP headers, including cookies and caching information",
          "Reverse proxy mode for inspecting traffic from remote clients",
          "Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux from the same licence",
          "Volume and site licensing for teams and organisations"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.usedFor",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "usedFor",
        "value": [
          "Inspecting the HTTPS traffic an application sends and receives",
          "Debugging caching and cookie behaviour by reading the HTTP headers",
          "Watching traffic from a remote device through reverse proxy mode",
          "Standardising on one debugging proxy across a mixed Windows, Mac and Linux team"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.audienceFor",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "audienceFor",
        "value": [
          "Developers who need a cross-platform HTTP debugging proxy rather than a Mac-only one",
          "Organisations that want site licensing rather than per-seat subscriptions"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.audienceNotFor",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "audienceNotFor",
        "value": [
          "Anyone who needs an open-source proxy they can inspect — Charles is closed source",
          "Users who want a perpetual licence across major versions, since a licence covers one major version"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.limitation",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "limitation",
        "value": [
          "Closed source, so the proxy implementation cannot be audited",
          "A licence covers the current major version only; upgrading to the next major version costs 40% of the original price",
          "Reading HTTPS traffic requires trusting an intercepting certificate on the device",
          "The minimum macOS version is not stated in the sources Nuanyue tracks"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.advantage.0",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Views HTTP and SSL/HTTPS traffic in full, including requests, responses and the HTTP headers carrying cookies and caching information.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.advantage.1",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Works as a proxy, a monitor and a reverse proxy from one application.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.advantage.2",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, so one licence and one tool cover a mixed-platform team.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.advantage.3",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Is a one-time purchase with volume discounts, rather than a subscription.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.advantage.4",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "A 30-day trial allows evaluation before purchase.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.drawback.0",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "A licence covers only the current major version; moving to the next major version costs 40% of the original price.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.drawback.1",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Closed source, so the proxy and its certificate handling cannot be inspected.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.drawback.2",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Site licences are priced per site, so a multi-site organisation needs the more expensive Multi-Site License.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:charles.drawback.3",
        "subject": "software:charles",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Reading HTTPS traffic requires trusting an intercepting certificate, which weakens the device's security while installed.",
        "status": "derived",
        "sourceIds": [
          "charles:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      }
    ],
    "lastUpdated": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z",
    "lastReviewedAt": null
  }
}