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Katalon Studio alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Katalon Studio: expensive per-seat paid plans, and heavy for simple request testing. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Katalon Studio, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. SoapUI currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1SoapUI logoSoapUIOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 466.5
2Karate logoKarateOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
3Hurl logoHurlOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Windows4 of 455.3
  1. SoapUI logo

    1. SoapUITop pick

    Best for: QA engineers testing SOAP and enterprise APIs who want a free, scriptable tool

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Katalon Studio

    Free, open-source API functional testing for REST and SOAP.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Strong SOAP and WSDL support
    • Groovy scripting and data-driven tests
    • Runs in CI from the command line

    Cons

    • Dated, heavy Java interface
    • Steep learning curve
    • Many conveniences are only in paid ReadyAPI
    Visit SoapUI Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is SoapUI a good Katalon Studio alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    REST, SOAP, GraphQL, JMS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026soapui.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Maker
    SmartBear
    Checked Oct 25, 2026soapui.org(opens source in a new tab)
    ReadyAPI trial
    14 days, no card
    Checked Oct 25, 2026soapui.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Karate logo

    2. Karate

    Best for: QA engineers and developers who want readable, automated API tests in CI

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Katalon Studio

    Open-source framework for API, UI and performance tests in one syntax.

    Pros

    • Readable tests without step definitions
    • API, UI, mocks and performance in one framework
    • Parallel test runs
    • Free, MIT-licensed core

    Cons

    • Not an interactive request client
    • Java toolchain can feel heavy
    • Some tooling only in paid editions
    Visit Karate Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Karate a good Katalon Studio alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Test types
    API, UI, performance, mocks
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.karatelabs.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Parallel runs
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.karatelabs.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Enterprise hosting
    Runs on your machines
    Checked Oct 25, 2026karatelabs.io(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Hurl logo

    3. Hurl

    Best for: Developers who want readable, plain-text API tests that run in CI

    Open sourceLinux, macOS, Windows

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Katalon Studio

    Lightweight plain-text API tests for CI pipelines.

    Pros

    • Plain-text files that diff well in Git
    • Assertions, captures and chained requests
    • Fast, built on libcurl
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • No graphical interface
    • Text format to learn for complex flows
    • Not suited to exploring APIs interactively
    Visit Hurl Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Hurl a good Katalon Studio alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Format
    Plain text
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hurl.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hurl.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Maintainer
    Orange
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Katalon Studio alternative for…

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

SoapUI logo

Best Katalon Studio alternative for most people

SoapUI

Free, open-source API functional testing for REST and SOAP.

Karate logo

Best Katalon Studio alternative for a free option

Karate

Open-source framework for API, UI and performance tests in one syntax.

Apidog logo

Best Katalon Studio alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Apidog

API-focused design, testing and mocking at a lower cost.

Hurl logo

Best Katalon Studio alternative for open source

Hurl

Lightweight plain-text API tests for CI pipelines.

Apidog logo

Best Katalon Studio alternative for self-hosting

Apidog

API-focused design, testing and mocking at a lower cost.

Postman logo

Best Katalon Studio alternative for Mac

Postman

Easier API testing with collections, monitors and team workspaces.

SoapUI logo

Best Katalon Studio alternative for Windows

SoapUI

Free, open-source API functional testing for REST and SOAP.

SoapUI logo

Best Katalon Studio alternative for Linux

SoapUI

Free, open-source API functional testing for REST and SOAP.

Apidog logo

Best Katalon Studio alternative for working in the browser

Apidog

API-focused design, testing and mocking at a lower cost.

Katalon Studio alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Katalon Studio?

SoapUI ranks first right now. Free, open-source API functional testing for REST and SOAP. Karate and Apidog follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Katalon Studio?

Yes. SoapUI (open source), Karate (open source), Apidog (free plan + paid) and Hurl (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Katalon Studio?

Yes: SoapUI, Karate and Hurl.

Which Katalon Studio alternatives work on Linux?

SoapUI, Karate, Apidog, Hurl and Postman run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Katalon Studio?

The complaints we hear most: expensive per-seat paid plans; heavy for simple request testing; free version limited to one local user.

How is this list ranked?

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