API testing no longer sits quietly at the end of a development cycle. It drives design decisions, release speed, and service reliability.
While Postman remains widely adopted, engineering teams increasingly look elsewhere due to pricing shifts, collaboration limits, performance overhead, or workflow rigidity. The market now offers mature, sharp-edged tools that solve these pain points without ceremony.
Here in this article we will list the top 20 Best Postman Alternatives for API testing, automation, and collaboration design.
What is Postman?
Postman is a great tool when trying to dissect RESTful APIs made by others or test ones you have made yourself. It offers a sleek user interface with which to make HTML requests, without the hassle of writing a bunch of code just to test an API’s functionality.
Postman is a rest client that basically started as a chrome browser plug-in but recently came out with native versions of both Mac and windows.
On a higher level, Postman can send post requests to the webserver and it would give a response back. It allows you to set up all the headers and cookies which API expects and then check the response when it comes back. In both automated and exploratory testing postman can be used.
Postman can run PUT, PATCH, DELETE, and various other request methods as well, and also has utilities to help with developing APIs. Free and paid versions are available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and also as a Chrome app.
Top 20 Best Postman Alternatives:
1. Insomnia
Insomnia focuses on speed and developer flow. The interface loads fast, stays minimal, and avoids UI clutter. REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSockets receive native support without bolt-ons.
Environment handling feels clean. Variables sync logically across requests. Plugin support allows teams to extend behavior instead of adapting workflows. Git-based collaboration removes dependency on vendor clouds, which appeals to security-first teams.
Insomnia fits engineers who value local control, predictable performance, and direct request handling without ceremony.
2. Hoppscotch
Hoppscotch runs entirely in the browser. No install friction. No license locks. REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and SSE requests fire instantly from a clean UI.
Collections sync through GitHub. Teams test endpoints during early design discussions without spinning up local tools. OAuth, headers, and environment variables remain accessible without overwhelming menus.
Hoppscotch works best during fast iteration cycles where immediacy beats heavyweight automation.
3. Swagger UI
Swagger UI transforms OpenAPI specs into live, testable documentation. Requests execute directly from the spec itself, closing gaps between design and validation.
It does not replace full API clients. Instead, it anchors contract-first development. Teams catch mismatches early. Stakeholders understand endpoints without translation layers.
Swagger UI fits organizations treating API definitions as enforceable contracts rather than reference files.
4. SoapUI
SoapUI targets complex test scenarios. REST and SOAP support sit at the core. Assertions, data-driven tests, and security scans integrate deeply.
Load testing and mock services allow validation beyond request-response checks. Enterprise teams rely on SoapUI when APIs support regulated systems or high-volume traffic.
The interface carries weight, yet the testing depth justifies the learning curve.
5. HTTPie
HTTPie brings clarity to terminal-based API testing. Requests read like plain English. Output formats remain readable even under stress.
Automation scripts benefit from predictable syntax. CI pipelines adopt HTTPie when GUIs slow momentum. Desktop versions exist, yet the CLI remains the real draw.
HTTPie fits engineers who trust keyboards more than dashboards.
6. Paw
Paw delivers a native macOS experience with precision. Dynamic values update headers and payloads in real time. OAuth handling stays smooth.
Code generation exports requests directly into production-ready snippets. Teams building iOS or macOS backends appreciate the OS-level integration.
Paw suits Apple-centric development environments that demand polish without noise.
7. Katalon Studio
Katalon bridges API testing with UI and mobile automation. REST and SOAP requests integrate into larger test flows without isolation.
Test cases scale through keyword-driven design. CI/CD hooks remain straightforward. Teams reduce tool sprawl by consolidating testing layers.
Katalon fits QA-driven organizations seeking unified automation pipelines.
8. Advanced REST Client
Advanced REST Client focuses on simplicity. Requests configure fast. History tracking supports quick regression checks.
Open-source roots keep the tool transparent. OAuth, WebSockets, and environments remain accessible without enterprise overhead.
ARC works well for individual developers or small teams needing direct control.
9. Stoplight
Stoplight centers on API-first design. OpenAPI definitions stay central. Mock servers simulate responses before backend readiness.
Governance rules enforce consistency across teams. Documentation, testing, and design converge in one workflow.
Stoplight suits organizations treating APIs as products rather than plumbing.
10. Thunder Client
Thunder Client lives inside Visual Studio Code. No context switching. Requests sit beside source files.
Collections stay lightweight. Environment variables mirror code configs. Response times remain sharp even under repeated calls.
Thunder Client fits developers who refuse to leave the editor.
11. Karate
Karate uses Gherkin syntax to express API tests as readable scenarios. No Java coding required despite JVM roots.
Mocking, performance testing, and assertions operate within one framework. CI pipelines adopt Karate for its script clarity.
Karate suits teams balancing automation depth with readable test logic.
12. Rest-Assured
Rest-Assured integrates directly into Java test suites. Assertions chain cleanly. JSON and XML parsing stay fluent.
No UI distractions. Everything runs through code. Teams embed API validation into existing JUnit or TestNG pipelines.
Rest-Assured fits backend-heavy Java ecosystems demanding tight test integration.
13. JMeter
JMeter handles API load and stress testing with brute reliability. REST and SOAP requests scale across distributed setups.
Assertions validate responses under pressure. Reports expose latency patterns that GUI tools often hide.
JMeter fits performance engineers focused on behavior under strain rather than visual polish.
14. Apigee
Apigee extends beyond testing into lifecycle governance. Traffic management, security policies, and analytics operate alongside validation.
APIs receive monitoring at scale. Enterprises rely on Apigee for operational visibility across distributed services.
Apigee suits large organizations managing public or partner-facing APIs.
15. Restlet Client
Restlet Client blends request testing with API monitoring. OpenAPI imports remain smooth. Collections share easily.
The tool emphasizes structured workflows rather than experimentation chaos.
Restlet Client fits teams maintaining long-lived APIs with stable contracts.
16. cURL
cURL remains universal. Every environment supports it. Scripts rely on it. Servers trust it.
While raw, cURL delivers unmatched portability. Developers understand exactly what leaves the machine.
cURL fits engineers who value control over comfort.
17. Postwoman
Before rebranding, Postwoman built a loyal following through simplicity. That philosophy persists within Hoppscotch today.
The project demonstrated how lightweight tools could rival heavy clients without compromise.
18. Firecamp
Firecamp focuses on team collaboration. Requests, WebSockets, and GraphQL sessions share live across workspaces.
Real-time updates reduce sync friction. Monitoring tools extend usage beyond testing.
Firecamp fits distributed teams debugging APIs together.
19. ReqBin
ReqBin operates entirely online. No installs. No configs. Requests execute through a browser interface.
cURL imports convert instantly. Teams validate endpoints during reviews or demos without setup delays.
ReqBin suits quick validation tasks and documentation checks.
20. Talend API Tester
Talend API Tester integrates as a browser extension. Requests capture directly from live traffic.
Assertions and environments remain simple. Teams test APIs while interacting with real applications.
Talend API Tester fits exploratory testing and rapid verification loops.
Final Thoughts
Postman alternatives no longer trail behind. Many outperform it in speed, governance, automation depth, or workflow alignment. Selection depends less on popularity and more on engineering reality.
Some teams demand CLI precision. Others need contract enforcement. Some prioritize collaboration. Each tool above earns relevance through focused execution rather than feature volume.
Choosing the right API testing tool reshapes daily work. The strongest option aligns naturally with how systems already operate.
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1 comment
Indeed, there are many other tools, like ReqBin, less known but no less efficient, free, and easy. You might update the list sometimes, adding new tools.