Developer Tools
HomebrewWhat is Charles?
Web debugging Proxy application
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask charles@4How to Install Charles on Mac
Follow these steps to install Charles using Homebrew, the most popular package manager for macOS. This works on both Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) and Intel Macs.
- 1
Open Terminal
Launch Terminal from your Applications > Utilities folder, or press Cmd + Space and type "Terminal".
- 2
Install Homebrew
If you don't have Homebrew yet, paste the install script from brew.sh into Terminal and follow the prompts.
- 3
Run
brew install --cask charles@4Paste the following command into Terminal and press Enter:
brew install --cask charles@4 - 4
Verify Installation
Run `brew list` to confirm charles@4 is installed, then try `charles@4 --version` to check the version number.
- 5
Launch Charles
Run `charles@4` in your Terminal to start using it.
Troubleshooting
- • If you see a permission error, try prefixing the command with
sudo. - • If Homebrew can't find the package, run
brew updatefirst to refresh the package list. - • On Apple Silicon Macs, make sure Homebrew is installed at
/opt/homebrew(the default for M-series chips).
Key Features
Easy installation via Homebrew
Regular updates and maintenance
Free to use
Professional support available
Pros
- Simple one-command installation
- Well-maintained and regularly updated
- Completely free to use
Cons
- Requires Homebrew to be installed
- macOS only
Frequently Asked Questions about Charles
How do I install Charles on Mac?
Open Terminal, install Homebrew if you haven't already (visit brew.sh), then run
brew install --cask charles@4. The app will be downloaded and installed automatically. You can then run charles@4 from Terminal.Is Charles free?
Yes, Charles is completely free to use.
How do I uninstall Charles?
Open Terminal and run
brew uninstall --cask charles@4. Homebrew will remove Charles and all associated files cleanly. You can verify it was removed by running brew list.What are alternatives to Charles?
There are several developer tools apps available for macOS. Browse the Developer Tools category on Bundl.run to compare features, popularity, and install counts for similar tools.
How do I update Charles to the latest version?
Run
brew upgrade --cask charles@4 in Terminal to update to the latest version. You can also run brew outdated to check if an update is available.Does Charles work on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4)?
Yes, Charles can be installed on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs via Homebrew. Homebrew automatically handles the correct version for your hardware.
