Postman Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

If your business has an app, a website with integrations, or a developer who connects your tools together, you've probably come across Postman. It's one of the best-known tools for testing and exploring APIs, which are the connections that let one piece of software talk to another. But it's not the only one, and some teams want something lighter, more private or free to use.

Here are ten Postman alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. I've mixed smaller and open-source tools with one familiar name, and every description comes from each tool's own website and directory listings. You don't have to be a developer to read this page, but it helps to know that an API client is a testing tool your developer uses to check connections work. My article on how API testing tools help web development gives some background.

API testing tools at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site says it has a free plan, a free tier or free open-source software. Trial only means there's a free trial but no ongoing free plan. A couple of tools restrict free use to personal projects or small teams, so read each tool's current terms for work use.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Apidog	All-in-one API platform	Designing, testing and documenting APIs together	Yes
Bruno	Open-source API client	Keeping requests as plain files you can share	Yes
Hoppscotch	Open-source API tool	Quick testing in a browser or desktop app	Yes
HTTPie	Terminal and desktop API client	Readable requests from the command line	Yes
Hurl	Command line request runner	Running saved requests as automatic checks	Yes
Insomnia	API client and platform	A familiar all-round API client	Yes
Kreya	Desktop API client	Privacy-minded testing of several API styles	Yes
Requestly	Git-based API client	A lightweight client that fits Git workflows	Trial only
Thunder Client	Code editor extension	Testing APIs without leaving your editor	Yes
Yaak	Local-first desktop client	A fast, private client that stays on your machine	Yes

Ten API client and testing tools to try

Apidog

Best for: Small teams who want to design, test, mock and document an API all in the same place.

Bruno

Best for: Developers who like their API requests saved as ordinary files that live alongside the project's code.

Hoppscotch

Best for: People who want an open-source API tool they can open in a browser tab, on desktop or from the command line.

HTTPie

Best for: Developers who prefer typing short, readable commands to test an API instead of clicking through a big app.

Hurl

Best for: Technical teams who want to write requests in plain text files and run them automatically as checks.

Insomnia

Best for: Teams that want a well-known API client for web, gRPC and GraphQL requests with a free tier to begin.

Kreya

Best for: Developers who value a privacy-first desktop app that handles several API styles, including gRPC and REST.

Requestly

Best for: Teams who like their API collections to sit neatly alongside code in Git and want a light desktop client.

Thunder Client

Best for: Developers who spend the day in VS Code and want to test an API there without opening another app.

Yaak

Best for: Developers who want a quick desktop client that keeps everything on their own computer and supports many API styles.

What an API client does, in plain English

An API is a way for two pieces of software to swap information, such as your booking system sending a new order to your accounts app. An API client lets someone send a test message to that connection and see exactly what comes back, which is how problems get found before customers hit them.

• Sending requests. The tool sends a test request and shows the reply.
• Saving collections. Handy requests are stored so the team can reuse them.
• Environments. The same requests can be pointed at a test version or the live version.
• Automatic checks. Some tools run a set of requests and report if anything breaks.
• Documentation. A few tools turn your requests into a guide that others can read.

How to choose an API client or testing tool

• Who'll use it. A solo developer, a small team and a business with outside agencies all need different features.
• Cloud or local. Some tools store your work online for sharing. Others keep everything on your own computer, which suits privacy-minded teams.
• Where it lives. Desktop app, browser, code editor extension or command line: pick the one your developers already use.
• API styles. Check it supports the styles you work with, such as REST, GraphQL or gRPC.
• Sharing. If several people use the same collections, look at how they're shared and how changes are tracked.
• Free limits. Free plans often cap the number of users or what you can share, so check the limits against your team.

Questions to ask your developer about API testing

• Where do our saved API requests live, and who can open them?
• Do those requests contain passwords or secret keys, and how are they protected?
• Can we export our collections if we change tools?
• Does the tool work offline, and does it send our data to anyone else's servers?
• Is our team's current setup free to use for work, or only for personal projects?

If you'd like a wider view of how developers pick their everyday tools, my notes on productivity tools for developers are a good next read.

Switching API tools without losing your saved requests

• Export your collections before you change anything, and keep a copy somewhere safe.
• Check which import formats the new tool accepts. Many can read common API files.
• Move one project first, then check that variables, environments and tests came across.
• Remove old secret keys from the previous tool once you've moved, and replace any you're unsure about.
• Tell the whole team on the same day, so nobody works from an out-of-date collection.

API testing mistakes to avoid

• Saving passwords and secret keys in a shared collection anyone can open.
• Assuming a tool's free plan allows commercial use without reading its terms.
• Moving the whole team at once instead of trialling with one project.
• Choosing a feature-packed platform when a simple client would do.
• Forgetting to check what the tool sends to its own servers.

Why a smaller API tool can be worth a look

Smaller API tools often start fast, stay out of the way and keep your files on your own machine. Many are open source, so you can see how they work and who looks after them. That's appealing if you find big platforms heavy or you want more control over your data.

Before relying on one, check how often it's updated, how your collections can be exported and whether the terms cover work use. And if your developer already loves a tool, that's a good reason to keep it. If you're weighing AI help for coding as well, my comparison of AI coding editors is worth a look.

Do you make an API testing or developer tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Settling on an API testing tool

Ask your developer how they work today, what they dislike about it and where they want requests stored. Shortlist two tools, move one small project across, and keep whichever the team opens without being asked. Make sure secrets are protected and your collections can always be exported.

Frequently asked questions

What is an API client?

It's a tool for sending test messages to an API and seeing the reply, so developers can check that two pieces of software are talking to each other correctly.

Do I need a developer to use these tools?

These tools are built for developers and technical staff. As a business owner you mainly need to know where your team's saved requests live and who has access.

Why would a team switch API tools?

Common reasons include wanting a lighter app, keeping files on their own computers, using open-source software, or fitting the tool into their code editor or Git workflow.

Are open-source API tools safe to use?

They can be, if they're actively maintained and set up carefully. Check how often the project is updated and avoid saving secret keys where others can read them.

Can I import my existing collections into a new tool?

Often, yes. Many tools can read common API file formats, but check the import options on the tool's own website and test with one project first.