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curl alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave curl: terminal only, and no collections, environments or test assertions. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces curl, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. HTTPie currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1HTTPie logoHTTPieFreeYesWeb, Windows, macOS +12 of 365.3
2Postman logoPostmanFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +10 of 347.0
  1. HTTPie logo

    1. HTTPieTop pick

    Best for: Developers who test APIs from the terminal

    FreeOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux

    65.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from curl

    Friendlier command syntax and coloured output, plus a desktop app.

    Pros

    • Readable command-line syntax
    • Open-source CLI
    • Desktop and web app available

    Cons

    • Desktop app less full-featured than Postman
    • Team features are limited
    Visit HTTPie Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is HTTPie a good curl alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Open source CLI
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Interfaces
    CLI, desktop and web app
    Checked Oct 24, 2026httpie.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Not checked yethttpie.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Postman logo

    2. Postman

    Best for: Teams that want a full API lifecycle platform

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux

    47.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from curl

    A graphical client that imports curl commands into collections.

    Pros

    • Covers design, testing, docs and monitoring
    • Supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC
    • Huge public API network

    Cons

    • Pushes cloud accounts and sync
    • Heavy for simple request testing
    Visit Postman Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1530
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Postman a good curl alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Not checked yetpostman.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket
    Not checked yetpostman.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
    Not checked yetpostman.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best curl alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

HTTPie logo

Best curl alternative for most people

HTTPie

Friendlier command syntax and coloured output, plus a desktop app.

xh logo

Best curl alternative for a free option

xh

A fast HTTPie-style CLI written in Rust, as a single binary.

Postman logo

Best curl alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Postman

A graphical client that imports curl commands into collections.

Hurl logo

Best curl alternative for open source

Hurl

Plain-text request files with assertions, built on libcurl.

Posting logo

Best curl alternative for Mac

Posting

A terminal interface with collections and environments.

HTTPie logo

Best curl alternative for Windows

HTTPie

Friendlier command syntax and coloured output, plus a desktop app.

HTTPie logo

Best curl alternative for Linux

HTTPie

Friendlier command syntax and coloured output, plus a desktop app.

HTTPie logo

Best curl alternative for working in the browser

HTTPie

Friendlier command syntax and coloured output, plus a desktop app.

curl alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to curl?

HTTPie ranks first right now. Friendlier command syntax and coloured output, plus a desktop app. xh and Hurl follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to curl?

Yes. HTTPie (free), xh (open source), Hurl (open source) and Posting (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to curl?

Yes: HTTPie, xh, Hurl and Posting.

Which curl alternatives work on Linux?

HTTPie, xh, Hurl, Posting and Postman run on Linux.

Why do people switch from curl?

The complaints we hear most: terminal only; no collections, environments or test assertions; many options to learn.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces curl, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.