Hurl alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Hurl: no graphical interface, and text format to learn for complex flows. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Hurl, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Bruno currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	HTTPie	Free	Yes	Web, Windows, macOS +1	2 of 3	54.0

1. HTTPieTop pick
Best for: Developers who test APIs from the terminal
FreeOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
54.0
score / 100
Why switch from Hurl
A friendly CLI and desktop app for interactive requests.
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 ×0.363
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 Hurl 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)

The best Hurl alternative for…

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

Best Hurl alternative for most people

Bruno

Also keeps requests as plain files, but adds a desktop interface.

Best Hurl alternative for a free option

httpYac

Runs .http files from VS Code or the CLI, with scripting.

Best Hurl alternative for open source

curl

The underlying tool, for one-off requests without test files.

Best Hurl alternative for Mac

Karate

A fuller test framework with parallel runs and mocks.

Best Hurl alternative for Windows

HTTPie

A friendly CLI and desktop app for interactive requests.

Best Hurl alternative for Linux

Bruno

Also keeps requests as plain files, but adds a desktop interface.

Best Hurl alternative for working in the browser

HTTPie

A friendly CLI and desktop app for interactive requests.

Hurl alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Hurl?

Bruno ranks first right now. Also keeps requests as plain files, but adds a desktop interface. httpYac and curl follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Hurl?

Yes. Bruno (open source), httpYac (open source), curl (open source) and Karate (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Hurl?

Yes: Bruno, httpYac, curl and Karate, plus 1 more in the list above.

Which Hurl alternatives work on Linux?

Bruno, httpYac, curl, Karate and HTTPie run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Hurl?

The complaints we hear most: no graphical interface; text format to learn for complex flows; not suited to exploring APIs interactively.

How is this list ranked?

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