Can I use Proxyman to debug network traffic from mobile devices (iOS/Android)?

Absolutely. Proxyman is designed with extensive support for debugging traffic from both iOS and Android devices, including physical devices, simulators, and emulators. For iOS and Android physical devices, you typically configure your device's Wi-Fi proxy settings to point to your Mac's IP address and Proxyman's listening port (default 9090). You'll then install the Proxyman CA Certificate on the device itself. For iOS Simulators and Android Emulators, Proxyman often provides one-click setup options that automate the proxy and certificate installation, making it incredibly convenient for mobile developers. There's also a native Proxyman iOS app that can capture traffic directly on an iPhone or iPad without needing a Mac.

What is the difference between Proxyman's free and paid (Pro) versions?

The free version of Proxyman offers essential functionality such as capturing and inspecting HTTP/HTTPS traffic, basic filtering, and a modern UI. It's suitable for fundamental debugging and network monitoring. However, the paid 'Pro' version unlocks a comprehensive suite of advanced debugging tools that are indispensable for professional development. These include powerful features like Map Local, Map Remote, Breakpoint, Scripting (Rewrite), Network Condition throttling, Diff Tool, and advanced multi-filters. The Pro version significantly enhances productivity and provides deeper control over network interactions, making it a worthy investment for serious developers and testers.

How do Proxyman's 'Map Local' and 'Map Remote' features work?

'Map Local' allows you to intercept a network request and serve a response from a local file or custom content directly from Proxyman, bypassing the actual server. This is incredibly useful for mocking API responses, developing frontend features without a live backend, or testing specific error scenarios. You define a matching rule (e.g., a URL) and then specify the local content (file, JSON, text) to be returned. 'Map Remote,' on the other hand, redirects an incoming request from one URL to another entirely different URL. This is valuable for testing different API versions, pointing to staging servers, or temporarily routing traffic without changing application code. Both tools significantly enhance development and testing flexibility.

Is Proxyman compatible with the latest macOS versions and Apple Silicon?

Yes, Proxyman is meticulously developed to ensure full compatibility and optimal performance with the latest macOS versions. As of 2026, it is fully optimized for macOS 26 Tahoe and later, and natively supports Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3, M4, etc.). This native architecture, built with Swift and Apple SwiftNIO, provides exceptional speed, low resource consumption, and a seamless user experience that is deeply integrated with the macOS ecosystem. Users can expect a highly responsive and efficient debugging environment on their modern Mac hardware.

How do I update my Proxyman license or add more seats?

Proxyman licenses are generally perpetual, meaning you own the version you purchase and receive free updates for one year. After that year, you can continue using that version indefinitely without renewal. To extend your eligibility for updates, you can purchase an 'Update License'. If you need to use Proxyman on more devices or for a team, you can add more 'seats' to your existing license. This is managed through the License Manager Portal on the Proxyman website. You enter your email associated with the license, receive an access link, and from there you can renew, extend, or transfer licenses across your devices (1 Mac/Windows device + 2 Premium iOS devices per seat).

Can Proxyman help with testing mobile app performance?

Yes, Proxyman can significantly assist in testing mobile app performance, particularly concerning network interactions. Its 'Network Condition Throttling' feature allows you to simulate various real-world network environments, such as 3G, LTE, or custom slow connections. By observing how your app behaves under these constraints (e.g., loading times, error handling, responsiveness), you can identify performance bottlenecks and ensure a smooth user experience across different network qualities. Additionally, by inspecting request and response sizes, you can pinpoint inefficient API calls or excessively large data transfers that might impact performance.

Does Proxyman support scripting for advanced traffic manipulation?

Yes, Proxyman offers a robust scripting feature that allows developers to write custom JavaScript code to manipulate HTTP/HTTPS requests and responses. This goes beyond simple find-and-replace, enabling dynamic modifications based on complex logic. You can alter headers, modify request or response bodies, change status codes, or even inject new data on the fly. This powerful tool is particularly useful for advanced testing scenarios, such as automating modifications for a series of requests, simulating intricate server behaviors, or bypassing certain client-side validations during development. It serves as a highly flexible alternative to traditional rewrite tools.

Where can I find support if I encounter issues with Proxyman?

Proxyman provides multiple avenues for support. The official website hosts extensive documentation, including detailed guides and tutorials that cover installation, features, and troubleshooting. For more interactive and immediate assistance, their Discord community is very active, where you can get help from other developers and the Proxyman team. For technical issues, bug reports, or feature requests, the GitHub repository is the primary channel, allowing direct interaction with the development team. For licensing, billing, or general inquiries, you can reach out directly via email, with a commitment to respond within 24 hours.

Can I integrate Proxyman into my continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline?

While Proxyman is primarily a graphical desktop application for interactive debugging, its underlying capabilities can be leveraged in CI/CD scenarios, especially for automated testing. For instance, you could use its scripting features to simulate specific API responses during automated UI or integration tests where a real backend interaction might be slow or unavailable. While Proxyman itself isn't a headless proxy designed for CI/CD like `mitmproxy` might be, the ability to export and import configurations (e.g., Map Local rules) means that predefined debugging scenarios could be consistently applied across different developer environments, supporting a more stable testing setup, though direct integration into a pipeline would typically involve command-line proxies.

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Proxyman

Name: Proxyman
Availability: InStock

HTTP debugging proxy

Developer ToolsFreeReplaces Charles ($50)

Quick Take: Proxyman

4.8

In 2026, Proxyman firmly establishes itself as the leading native web debugging proxy for macOS, offering an unparalleled blend of performance, an elegant user interface, and a robust suite of debugging tools. Its dedication to the Apple ecosystem, including full Apple Silicon optimization and integration with the latest macOS 26 Tahoe, ensures a fluid and efficient experience that often surpasses cross-platform or Java-based alternatives. Strengths lie in its intuitive SSL Proxying, powerful traffic manipulation features like Map Local/Remote and Scripting, and seamless support across macOS, iOS, and Android devices. While the comprehensive feature set might present a slight learning curve for novices, and the full professional toolset is gated behind a paid license, the perpetual pricing model offers excellent long-term value. For any developer or QA engineer deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, or working with mobile applications, Proxyman is an indispensable tool that significantly streamlines debugging workflows and enhances productivity. It comes highly recommended for those who prioritize a native, high-performance, and visually appealing debugging solution.

Best For

•macOS & iOS App Developers
•API Developers & Testers
•Frontend Engineers needing API mocking

Install with Homebrew

brew install --cask proxyman

What is Proxyman?

Proxyman stands out in 2026 as a premier native macOS web debugging proxy, meticulously engineered to intercept, inspect, and manipulate HTTP/HTTPS traffic. Conceived by founder Noah Tran, Proxyman launched in 2019 with a vision to provide a high-performance, intuitive, and distraction-free experience specifically for Mac developers. Unlike many cross-platform tools, Proxyman was built from the ground up using Swift and Apple SwiftNIO, ensuring deep integration with macOS, including full optimization for Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3, M4) and the latest macOS 26 Tahoe. Its core value proposition lies in delivering a seamless debugging workflow, allowing developers to easily untangle complex network issues across their Mac, iOS, and Android applications. In the ever-evolving landscape of developer tools, Proxyman has solidified its position as a modern alternative to older proxies like Charles or Fiddler, offering superior performance, a contemporary user interface, and a comprehensive suite of advanced features. It's an indispensable asset for anyone needing precise control and visibility over network requests and responses, from mobile app development and API testing to security analysis and reverse engineering.

Deep Dive: Proxyman

Proxyman is a powerful HTTP debugging proxy for macOS, offering robust tools to intercept, inspect, and manipulate network traffic. It enables developers to gain deep insights into their applications' network communications, facilitating efficient debugging, API testing, and mobile development by providing clear visibility into HTTP/HTTPS requests and responses.

History & Background

Proxyman embarked on its journey in 2019, initially as a native macOS application dedicated to providing an intuitive interface for capturing and inspecting HTTP/HTTPS traffic. Its inception aimed to offer a focused, native debugging experience for developers, setting it apart from more generalized or cross-platform tools. Over the years, Proxyman has steadily grown, expanding its reach beyond macOS to include iOS, Windows, and Linux platforms. Key milestones include consistently delivering high-performance, native applications, and evolving into a comprehensive debugging solution while maintaining its core principles of speed, reliability, and ease of use. The platform has garnered recognition as a modern alternative to established tools like Charles Proxy and Fiddler, praised for its clean UI and powerful features.

How It Works

Proxyman's macOS-specific architecture is built for high-performance and a native user experience. It is 100% written in Apple Swift NIO, a framework for building high-performance protocol servers and clients. This allows Proxyman to efficiently handle network traffic, acting as a man-in-the-middle server to capture data between applications and SSL Web Servers. It leverages built-in macOS setup capabilities for one-click HTTP/HTTPS inspection and automatically overrides system network preferences. Proxyman also utilizes a 'Helper Tool' to ensure high-performance proxying and graceful proxy reversion in case of unexpected application crashes. The application is optimized for Apple Silicon chips and supports the latest macOS versions, including macOS 26 Tahoe, and features a modern, intuitive 'Liquid Glass UI'.

Ecosystem & Integrations

Proxyman fosters a rich ecosystem through its support for various integrations and customization options. Its 'Scripting Tool' allows developers to manipulate request and response content using JavaScript, offering a flexible alternative to GUI-based tools like Breakpoint or Map Local for complex logic. This feature is complemented by a collection of built-in add-ons and JavaScript libraries, as well as snippet code to streamline debugging. Proxyman can integrate with mobile development workflows, enabling traffic capture from iOS devices, simulators, Android devices, and emulators. It also supports GraphQL debugging and offers features like importing Charles Proxy files. The platform provides API documentation, allowing for programmatic interaction, and supports exporting data in various formats like Proxyman Log, HAR, and CSV, with the ability to publish to GitHub Gist for easy sharing.

Future Development

Recent updates in late 2025 and early 2026 for Proxyman have focused on significant enhancements. Key releases include version 6.3.0 in December 2025, which introduced experimental HTTP/2 Beta support and improved localhost traffic capture. January 2026 saw the release of Proxyman 6.4.0, bringing the 'Team Workspace' feature for team collaboration, the 'MCP Proxyman' for AI-powered data interaction using tools like Claude Code or Cursor, and a VPN for Android Emulator for easier traffic capture. Proxyman 6.5.0 and 6.6.0 were also released in early 2026, further indicating active development. The future roadmap for Proxyman emphasizes porting more macOS features to Windows and Linux, cloud integration for team collaboration and cross-device synchronization, and an improved developer experience with enhanced UI/UX and documentation. Enterprise solutions with advanced team management and custom deployment options are also planned.

Key Features

SSL Proxying

Proxyman effortlessly decrypts and displays encrypted HTTPS traffic in plain text, acting as a man-in-the-middle. It simplifies certificate installation on macOS, iOS, and Android devices, allowing developers to gain full visibility into secure communication without complex manual configurations, crucial for debugging modern applications that heavily rely on HTTPS.

Map Local & Map Remote

These powerful features enable developers to mock API responses or redirect requests. 'Map Local' allows serving responses from local files or custom content, ideal for frontend development when a backend API isn't ready. 'Map Remote' redirects requests to different endpoints, useful for testing staging environments or alternative API versions, significantly speeding up development cycles.

Breakpoint Tool

The Breakpoint tool provides granular control by allowing users to pause specific requests or responses mid-flight. During a breakpoint, developers can inspect and modify headers, body content, and even HTTP methods before letting the traffic continue, making it invaluable for testing edge cases, security vulnerabilities, or specific server behaviors.

Scripting (Rewrite)

Proxyman's scripting capability empowers users to write custom JavaScript code to dynamically alter requests and responses. This offers unparalleled flexibility for advanced debugging scenarios, such as modifying authentication tokens on the fly, transforming data formats, or injecting custom headers, surpassing the capabilities of simpler GUI-based rewrite tools.

Network Condition Throttling

This feature simulates various network conditions, allowing developers to test how their applications perform under slow internet, high latency, or packet loss. By applying preset profiles or custom settings to specific hosts or system-wide, it ensures robust app behavior across diverse user network environments.

WebSocket Debugging

With increasing adoption of real-time communication, Proxyman offers comprehensive WebSocket debugging. It captures and displays WebSocket frames in a human-readable format, allowing developers to inspect messages, identify issues in bidirectional communication, and ensure the stability of real-time features in their applications.

Compose and Repeat Requests

The 'Compose' tool enables building HTTP requests from scratch, while 'Repeat' allows re-executing previous requests with ease. This is vital for API testing and rapid iteration, letting developers quickly experiment with different parameters, headers, or body content without needing to interact with the original client application.

Who Should Use Proxyman?

1Mobile App Developer (iOS/Android)

An iOS developer is building a new feature that relies on an external API. They use Proxyman to intercept traffic from their iOS Simulator, enabling SSL Proxying for the API domain. When a network request fails, they quickly identify the malformed request body and incorrect headers sent by their app. Using the Breakpoint tool, they modify the request on the fly to test a fix, verifying the server's expected response before even recompiling their code, significantly accelerating the debugging process.

2Frontend Web Developer

A frontend developer is working on a new user interface component that depends on a complex JSON response from a backend API, which is still under development. To avoid waiting, they use Proxyman's 'Map Local' feature to serve a predefined local JSON file as the API response. This allows them to fully develop and test their UI component against realistic data, including various success and error states, without any dependency on the live backend, ensuring a smooth and decoupled workflow.

3QA Engineer / Tester

A QA engineer needs to verify an application's behavior under poor network conditions and ensure error handling is robust. They utilize Proxyman's 'Network Condition Throttling' to simulate a 'Very Bad Network' profile for the app's API endpoints. During testing, they observe how the app handles timeouts and retries, capturing specific error responses to log precise bug reports. Additionally, they use 'Map Remote' to redirect certain requests to a staging server for isolated testing of new features.

How to Install Proxyman on Mac

Installing Proxyman on macOS is straightforward, offering both a traditional download and a convenient Homebrew Cask method. The process ensures you can quickly get up and running, with automated certificate installation simplifying the initial setup for HTTPS traffic interception.

Download Proxyman

The recommended method is to open your Terminal and execute the command: `brew install --cask proxyman`. Alternatively, you can download the latest macOS `.dmg` installer directly from the official Proxyman website (proxyman.io) and drag the application to your Applications folder.

Install Helper Tool (Automatic Proxy Configuration)

Upon first launching Proxyman, it will prompt you to install a 'Helper Tool'. This tool allows Proxyman to automatically override your system's HTTP/HTTPS proxy settings, enabling immediate traffic capture. Granting root privileges when prompted is necessary for this automatic configuration.

Install and Trust Proxyman CA Certificate

To decrypt and inspect HTTPS traffic, you must install and trust Proxyman's self-signed CA Certificate. Navigate to 'Certificate' > 'Install Certificate on this Mac...' in the Proxyman menu. Choose 'Automatic Mode', enter your macOS password, and Proxyman will handle the installation and trust in Keychain Access. This step is crucial for viewing HTTPS requests in plain text.

Enable SSL Proxying for Specific Domains/Apps

After certificate installation, you need to explicitly enable SSL Proxying for the domains or applications you wish to inspect. Go to 'Tools' > 'SSL Proxying List' and add the target domains (e.g., `*.yourdomain.com`) or specific applications. This tells Proxyman which encrypted connections to decrypt.

Pro Tips

• Ensure your macOS is at least version 11.0 or later for optimal compatibility and performance.
• If encountering issues with HTTPS decryption, verify the Proxyman CA certificate is 'Always Trust' in Keychain Access.
• For mobile device debugging (iOS/Android), ensure both your device and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network and configure the device's proxy settings to point to your Mac's IP address and Proxyman's port (default 9090).

Configuration Tips

Optimizing SSL Proxying for Specific Domains

Instead of enabling SSL Proxying for all domains (which can introduce unnecessary overhead and security warnings), add specific domains or use wildcards (e.g., `*.api.example.com`) to your 'SSL Proxying List' under 'Tools'. This ensures only relevant traffic is decrypted, improving performance and maintaining a cleaner traffic log. You can also exclude sensitive domains if needed.

Leveraging Filters for Focused Debugging

Proxyman offers powerful filtering capabilities. Beyond the primary search bar, utilize the 'Advanced Filters' to narrow down traffic by URL, header, body content, method, status code, and more. Creating and saving filter presets for common debugging scenarios (e.g., 'Only failed API calls' or 'Requests to auth service') significantly streamlines your workflow and makes identifying issues faster.

Setting Up Multiple Workspaces for Projects

For developers working on multiple projects, consider using Proxyman's 'Workspaces'. Each workspace can have its own set of SSL Proxying rules, Map Local/Remote configurations, and Breakpoints. This prevents conflicts between project settings and keeps your debugging environment organized, especially when switching between different client applications or microservices.

Alternatives to Proxyman

While Proxyman offers a compelling native macOS experience, several other web debugging proxies serve similar purposes, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Charles Proxy

Charles Proxy has long been a dominant player in web debugging, offering a mature and extensive feature set. However, it's often criticized for its Java-based, less-native UI and perceived performance overhead on macOS. Proxyman, in contrast, boasts a truly native Swift UI, feels snappier, and is generally considered more aesthetically pleasing and intuitive by many Mac developers in 2026. Charles's licensing model is also subscription-based for updates, whereas Proxyman offers a perpetual license with a year of updates.

Fiddler (Fiddler Everywhere)

Fiddler, particularly Fiddler Everywhere for macOS, is another cross-platform alternative. While powerful, Fiddler Everywhere is built on Electron, which can lead to a less integrated feel and higher resource consumption compared to Proxyman's native architecture. Proxyman's focus on macOS-specific optimizations and a streamlined interface often gives it an edge in user experience and performance for Mac users. Fiddler offers broad platform support, but its UI can also feel less modern than Proxyman's.

mitmproxy

mitmproxy is a free and open-source alternative known for its powerful command-line interface and scripting capabilities. It's highly favored by developers who prefer terminal-based workflows or need advanced programmatic control over traffic. However, its lack of a graphical user interface (though it has a web UI) makes it less approachable for visual debugging compared to Proxyman's rich native GUI. Proxyman offers a more user-friendly visual inspection and manipulation experience, while mitmproxy is better for automation.

Pricing

Freemium

Proxyman operates on a freemium model, offering a robust free version with essential debugging features, making it accessible for casual users and basic inspection tasks. The paid 'Pro' version unlocks advanced capabilities like Breakpoint, Map Local/Remote, Scripting, Network Condition throttling, and Diff Tool. Pricing for a perpetual 'Standard License' (1 seat for 1 Mac, Windows, or Linux device, including 2 Premium iOS devices) starts at $69 USD, with a one-time purchase granting lifetime access to the purchased version and one year of free updates. After a year, users can continue using their last updated version indefinitely without renewal, or extend updates for an additional cost. 'Team Licenses' and 'Subscriptions' are also available for organizations, offering prorated pricing for adding seats and centralized license management.

Pros

✓Native macOS Performance: Built with Swift and SwiftNIO, offering superior speed and responsiveness, optimized for Apple Silicon.
✓Intuitive and Modern UI: Features a clean, user-friendly interface that aligns with macOS design principles, enhancing developer experience.
✓Comprehensive Debugging Tools: Includes powerful features like Map Local/Remote, Breakpoint, Scripting, and Network Throttling.
✓Seamless Cross-Device Support: Easily captures and debugs traffic from macOS, iOS, iOS Simulator, Android devices, and Android Emulators.
✓Automated SSL Proxying: Simplifies certificate installation and trust, making HTTPS decryption effortless across all supported platforms.
✓Perpetual License Model: A one-time purchase grants lifetime access to a specific version, including a year of free updates, a developer-friendly approach.
✓Active Development & Community Support: Regular updates, a responsive support team via email, Discord, and an active GitHub presence.
✓Backend Development Integration: Zero-setup for capturing HTTP(s) traffic from Node.js, Ruby, Python, and Golang applications in the terminal.

Cons

✗Steeper Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While basic use is easy, mastering advanced tools like Scripting or complex Map Local rules can take time.
✗Pricing for Teams Can Add Up: While the personal license is perpetual, larger teams might find the cost per seat for subscriptions or extensions to be a significant investment.
✗Limited Free Version Functionality: The free version, while capable, deliberately omits critical advanced debugging features, pushing users towards the paid tier.
✗Potential for Overwhelming UI for Beginners: The sheer number of features and panels, despite being well-organized, could initially be daunting for complete newcomers to proxy debugging.
✗Requires Root Privileges for Certificate Installation: Automatic SSL proxying requires admin password, which might be a concern for some security-conscious users or corporate environments, though a standard practice for proxies.

Community & Support

Proxyman maintains a strong commitment to its user community and offers comprehensive support channels. Their official documentation provides extensive guides, tutorials, and API references, aiding users in mastering the application's features. For real-time assistance and community interaction, Proxyman hosts an active Discord server with over 1,000 developers, providing a platform for discussions, sharing tips, and troubleshooting. Technical issues, bug reports, and feature requests are actively managed on their GitHub repository, demonstrating transparency and a direct feedback loop with the development team. Email support is also readily available for licensing, billing, and general inquiries, with a typical response time within 24 hours.

Video Tutorials

Getting Started with Proxyman

Perfology8.2K views

How to capture HTTPS traffic from the iOS Simulator with Proxyman 📱

Vincent Pradeilles • 6.5K views

Demo Capture HTTPS from iPhone iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 with Proxyman

Proxyman Tutorial • 1.5K views

Proxyman - iOS Dev Tools Series

iOS Mastery • 18.4K views

Frequently Asked Questions about Proxyman

Proxyman acts as a man-in-the-middle proxy to decrypt HTTPS traffic. When you install the Proxyman CA Certificate on your Mac or mobile device, it essentially tells your system to trust Proxyman's self-signed certificate for SSL/TLS connections. Proxyman then intercepts encrypted traffic, decrypts it for inspection, and re-encrypts it before forwarding it to its destination. It's crucial to understand that this process happens locally on your machine, and Proxyman explicitly states it never stores or transmits any personal data to its servers or third parties. Users have full control over when to enable/disable SSL Proxying and can remove the certificate at any time, ensuring security and privacy remain in the user's hands.

Our Verdict

4.8/5

Best for:macOS & iOS App DevelopersAPI Developers & TestersFrontend Engineers needing API mocking

About the Author

Alex Chen

Senior Developer Tools Specialist

Code Editors & IDEsTerminal EmulatorsVersion Control Tools

12+ years in software development · Former senior engineer at tech startups

Related Technologies & Concepts

Noah TranApple SiliconmacOS 26 TahoeCharles ProxySwiftNIOHTTP/HTTPSProxyman LLCHomebrew Cask

Sources & References

Fact-Checked

Last verified: Feb 15, 2026

Key Verified Facts

Proxyman is available for macOS with Homebrew installation support[cite-1]
Proxyman supports Apple Silicon Macs natively[cite-10]

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proxyman.com
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
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proxyman.com
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raycast.com
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github.com
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
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proxyman.com
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
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proxyman.com
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
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medium.com
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
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ackee.agency
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
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leantest.io
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
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setapp.com
Accessed Feb 15, 2026

Research queries: Proxyman macOS web debugging proxy review 2026; What is Proxyman app for Mac?; Proxyman history and creator; Proxyman core features; Proxyman use cases developers

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