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HookSense vs Smee.io: Agent callback layer vs forwarding proxy

Smee.io is a free, open-source proxy that forwards webhooks to localhost — popular in the GitHub/Probot ecosystem — while a human watches the terminal. HookSense is the agent-native callback layer: your AI agent creates a hosted endpoint and awaits the result over MCP with wait_for_callback, signature-verified, no localhost required.

Last updated: June 2026

Feature Comparison

Pricing Comparison

Why Choose HookSense

• Your agent awaits the result over MCP with wait_for_callback — no localhost listener, no event stream to babysit
• MCP-native: npx @hooksense/mcp adds the callback toolset to Claude or Cursor
• Signature-verified callbacks so your agent only acts on trusted payloads
• Hosted callback URL — nothing runs on localhost and no port is opened
• replay_callback to re-fire a captured callback when a step needs another try
• Auto-retries and dead-letter coming soon (paid plans in early access)

Frequently asked

Does HookSense forward to localhost like Smee.io?

It does something better for agents: instead of piping to localhost, HookSense hosts the callback endpoint and lets your agent call wait_for_callback over MCP to receive the signed result. No localhost listener required.

What does HookSense have that Smee.io doesn't?

A wait_for_callback primitive an agent can block on, an MCP server (npx @hooksense/mcp), signature verification on inbound callbacks, replay_callback, and a hosted endpoint. Smee is a lightweight forwarding proxy for humans; HookSense is the agent-native callback layer.

Is Smee.io still a good choice for anything?

Yes — for quick, throwaway local forwarding where a human watches the terminal, smee is simple and free. HookSense is the better default when an AI agent needs to create an endpoint and await a verified result.