Why is Charles Proxy so painful to set up?
Charles Proxy has been the industry standard for over 15 years. It’s a powerful tool, but it was built for a different era. Being a Java-based desktop application, it carries the legacy of "localhost" dependency, making it increasingly difficult to use in modern, mobile-first development environments.
The "IP Address" Nightmare
To debug a mobile app with Charles, your phone and computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network. You have to find your laptop's local IP (e.g., 192.168.1.5), manually type it into your phone's Wi-Fi settings, and pray that your office firewall doesn't block port 8888.
If you move to a coffee shop or work from home, your IP changes, and you have to reconfigure everything.Debuggo eliminates this. Our proxy lives in the cloud. You get a static address that works everywhere—on 4G, LTE, or corporate Wi-Fi.
The Hidden Cost of Setup Time
Calculating the true cost of a tool requires looking beyond the license fee. If a QA engineer spends 15 minutes every day troubleshooting proxy connections, handling certificate errors on Android 14, or re-configuring IP addresses, that's over 60 hours a year wasted per person.
Debuggo is designed to be "Zero Config". You create a project, get a dedicated proxy URL, and it just works. No firewall rules to manage, no local IP dependencies.
Price Comparison: Free vs $50
| Feature | Charles Proxy | Debuggo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $30 - $50 USD / license | Free Tier Forever |
| Updates | Paid upgrades for major versions | Included automatically |
| Devices | 1 Computer | Unlimited Devices |
| Cloud Storage | ❌ (Local files only) | ✅ Included |
Remote Debugging: The Game Changer
How do you debug an issue that only happens on your QA engineer's device in London, while you are in New York? With Charles, you can't. You have to ask them to export logs (XML) and email them to you.
Collaborative Debugging
With Debuggo, sessions are shareable URLs. Your QA team can reproduce a bug, click "Share Session", and send you a link. You open it in your browser and see the exact headers, response body, and timing waterfall as if the device was in your hand.
Built-in Network Throttling
Simulating bad network conditions in Charles requires digging into menus (`Proxy → Throttle Settings`). In Debuggo, it's a first-class citizen.
Toggle "Subway Mode" (High Latency) or "Offline Mode" with one click to test how your app handles connection drops. It's the easiest way to ensure your app is resilient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Debuggo compatible with Android and iOS?
Yes. Since Debuggo uses standard HTTP proxy protocols, it works natively with iOS and Android Wi-Fi settings without requiring any SDK installation.
How is this different from Charles Proxy?
Charles Proxy runs locally on your computer. Debuggo runs in the cloud. This means you don't need to be on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer to debug mobile traffic, making it perfect for remote teams.
Do I need to root or jailbreak my phone?
No. Debuggo works on standard devices. You simply install a user certificate to decrypt HTTPS traffic, similar to how Charles or Fiddler works.
Is there a free version?
Yes! Debuggo has a generous free tier that lets you debug traffic and use basic network throttling features forever.