Comparison
PNTR vs RequestBin
RequestBin popularised the idea of a throwaway URL that records whatever is posted to it. The standalone service shut down in 2018 after sustained abuse, and the name now belongs to Pipedream — requestbin.com issues a 301 redirect to pipedream.com/requestbin. That matters, because what you get today is a component of a workflow-automation platform rather than a standalone bin.
PNTR compared with RequestBin
| Feature | PNTR | RequestBin |
|---|---|---|
| What it is today | A standalone subdomain with request capture | A feature inside Pipedream, a workflow-automation platform |
| Endpoint URL | A name you choose — yourname.pntr.dev | A generated endpoint on a Pipedream domain |
| Account required | No — guests get one subdomain immediately | Yes, for a persistent bin tied to a workspace |
| Beyond capture | DNS records and a catch-all inbox on the same name | Trigger workflows, run code steps, connect hundreds of apps |
| DNS records | A, AAAA, CNAME, TXT, MX | None |
| MCP server for Claude / Cursor | Yes — dev.pntr/pntr in the official MCP registry | None published for RequestBin specifically |
| Free retention | 48 hours, 1,000 stored requests per subdomain | Tied to Pipedream's free workspace limits |
| Paid entry point | $5/month or $48/year | Pipedream's paid plans — see their pricing page for current figures |
RequestBin pricing and limits last checked on . Check their site for current terms.
Choose PNTR when
- You want to inspect a webhook payload in the next thirty seconds without creating an account or a workspace.
- You want the endpoint to keep working next month under the same name, rather than being a disposable bin.
- You need DNS on the same hostname — capturing callbacks while a CNAME points elsewhere.
- You do not want a webhook inspector that also asks you to adopt an automation platform.
Choose RequestBin when
- You want to do something with the request after receiving it — transform it, forward it, or trigger a workflow. PNTR only stores and displays requests.
- You need connectors to other services, code steps, or scheduled jobs. Pipedream is an automation platform; PNTR is not.
- Your team already runs on Pipedream and a bin in the same workspace is less friction than a separate tool.
Questions
- Is the original RequestBin still available?
- Not as a standalone service. It was discontinued in 2018 following ongoing abuse, and requestbin.com now redirects to pipedream.com/requestbin. The open-source code was self-hostable, but the hosted original is gone.
- Why did RequestBin shut down?
- Publicly writable URLs that record and display arbitrary payloads attract abuse — they get used to exfiltrate data and host content the operator never intended. Any service in this category has to plan for it, which is part of why several have added request caps and expiry.
- Does PNTR require a signup like Pipedream does?
- No. A guest gets one subdomain with capture enabled and no account. Signing in with GitHub raises the limit to three subdomains.
- Can PNTR forward or transform captured requests?
- No. PNTR stores requests and shows you the method, headers, and body. If you need to act on the request, an automation platform is the right tool.