API clients
Verdict. The default choice for teams — the most capable API platform, at the cost of cloud lock-in and per-seat pricing.
What it is. The most widely used API platform: build, test, document, and monitor APIs in shared workspaces, with desktop and web apps.
Good.
- Most complete feature set: collections, mock servers, monitors, docs, and automated testing in one place
- Huge community, templates, and integrations — easy to find help and ready-made collections
- Strong team collaboration with shared workspaces and version control
Bad.
- Cloud-first: requires an account and syncs collections to Postman's cloud
- Free tier is single-user and caps collection runs, so teams must pay
- Can feel heavy and slow, and paid tiers get expensive as teams grow
Best for. Teams that want one full API platform for design, testing, docs, and monitoring
Price: Free tier (1 user); paid plans from $14/user/mo (Basic), $29 Professional, $49 Enterprise (annual billing) · Official site · Docs · Pricing
Verdict. The best balance of polish, protocols, and open source — if you can live without Postman's platform depth.
What it is. Kong's open-source desktop API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, and SSE, with API design and Git sync.
Good.
- Multi-protocol support (REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, SSE) in one clean app
- Open-source core; the local Scratch Pad works with no account at all
- Git sync and end-to-end encrypted sync for team workflows
Bad.
- Git sync for larger teams, RBAC, and other team controls sit behind paid plans
- Smaller plugin and template ecosystem than Postman
- Pricing and account requirements have changed under Kong's ownership
Best for. Developers who want a clean, fast, multi-protocol client with an open-source core
Price: Free Essentials tier; Pro from $12/user/mo, Enterprise $45/user/mo · Official site · Docs · Pricing
Verdict. The Git-native, offline-first favorite — ideal if your collections belong in a repo, not a cloud.
What it is. An offline-first, open-source API client that stores collections as plain-text .bru files on your filesystem, designed to live in Git.
Good.
- Collections are plain files — diff, review, and merge them in Git like code
- No account, no cloud, no telemetry; your data never leaves your machine
- Fast, lightweight, and free under the MIT license
Bad.
- No built-in mock servers, monitors, or API docs generation
- Collaboration only works through Git — no cloud workspaces
- Smaller ecosystem and fewer auth presets than Postman
Best for. Git-native teams and privacy-minded developers who want API collections in version control
Price: Free and open source; Pro from $6/user/mo, Ultimate $11/user/mo (billed annually) · Official site · Docs · Pricing
Verdict. The nicest way to poke an API from the terminal; the GUI is lovely but thinner than its rivals.
What it is. A friendly command-line HTTP client (a human-friendlier curl) plus desktop and web apps for sending requests and inspecting responses.
Good.
- CLI syntax is far more readable than curl, with syntax highlighting and JSON built in
- Desktop and web apps share the same clean, minimal design
- Great for quick terminal checks and scripting API calls
Bad.
- No scripting, test assertions, or collection runner in the Desktop app
- Desktop app is REST/HTTP only — no WebSocket, gRPC, or GraphQL
- Free tier caps request history at 200; sync and team features need paid plans
Best for. Terminal-first developers who want a prettier, faster curl — and a simple GUI when they need one
Price: Free CLI (open source); Desktop/web free tier; paid Plus plans from $9/mo · Official site · Docs · Web app
Verdict. The fastest way to test an API — open a tab and go — with a real free tier and self-hosting.
What it is. An open-source, browser-first API client (formerly Postwoman) for REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, MQTT, and SSE — no install needed.
Good.
- Runs entirely in the browser; zero install to start testing an API
- Free tier is genuinely generous: unlimited workspaces, collections, and requests
- Open source and self-hostable for full control of your data
Bad.
- Browser security (CORS) can block requests without the browser extension or a proxy
- Fewer enterprise features and integrations than Postman
- Self-hosting means running and maintaining your own infrastructure
Best for. Anyone who wants a free, no-install API client in the browser, or a self-hosted option for their team
Price: Free forever; Organization plan from $6/user/mo (billed annually) · Official site · Docs · Pricing
Verdict. The most convenient API client if you live in VS Code — but the free tier is now heavily limited.
What it is. A lightweight API client that lives inside VS Code as an extension, so you can test APIs without leaving your editor.
Good.
- Stays in VS Code — no app switching while you code
- Very lightweight and fast to open
- Collections stored locally in the workspace
Bad.
- Free tier is personal, non-commercial use only, with tight limits (e.g. 1 collection run/month)
- Scripting, Git sync, and WebSocket/gRPC testing need paid tiers
- VS Code only — no standalone or web version
Best for. VS Code users who want quick API checks inside their editor
Price: Free tier (personal, non-commercial use); paid plans from $3/user/mo (Starter, billed annually) · Official site · Docs · Pricing
Verdict. Insomnia's creator, rebuilt without the cloud — fast and private, but work use is paid.
What it is. A local-first desktop API client by the creator of Insomnia, for HTTP, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, and SSE — no account, no cloud.
Good.
- Local-first: no account or cloud sync; workspaces live on your machine
- Fast, clean UI from the developer who built Insomnia
- Git-friendly plain-file workspaces, plus a CLI and MCP server for AI coding agents
Bad.
- Free only for personal use — commercial use needs a paid license after a 30-day trial
- No built-in team collaboration beyond Git or synced folders
- Younger and smaller ecosystem than Insomnia or Postman
Best for. Developers who want a fast, private, offline API client — and don't mind paying for work use
Price: Free for personal use; commercial licenses from $79/user/yr (Individual), $149 Business, $399 Lifetime · Official site · Docs · Pricing
Verdict. The minimalist's API client — if your requests belong in a text file next to your code, nothing beats it.
What it is. A free VS Code extension by Huachao Mao that lets you send HTTP requests from plain-text .http/.rest files and view responses right in the editor.
Good.
- Requests are plain text files — version them in Git alongside your code
- Zero setup beyond the extension; no account or separate app
- Variables, environments, and response history built in
Bad.
- No GUI — you write requests as text, which is a learning curve for some
- No collections UI, test runner, or team features
- Response viewing is basic compared with full API clients
Best for. Developers who live in VS Code and want their API requests checked into Git as text
Price: Free · Official site · GitHub