Postman alternatives: 9 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Postman: pushes cloud accounts and sync, and heavy for simple request testing. We ranked 9 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Postman, 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	Bruno	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	3 of 3	68.8
2	Insomnia	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	3 of 3	64.8
3	Hoppscotch	Open source	Yes	Web, Windows, macOS +2	3 of 3	61.8
4	HTTPie	Free	Yes	Web, Windows, macOS +1	2 of 3	55.9
5	Thunder Client	Free plan + paid	No	Windows, macOS, Linux	5 of 5	40.0
6	Yaak	Free plan + paid	Yes	macOS, Windows, Linux	5 of 5	40.0
7	KrKreya	Free plan + paid	No	macOS, Windows, Linux	4 of 4	40.0
8	Apidog	Free plan + paid	No	Web, Windows, macOS +2	4 of 4	40.0
9	Requestly	Paid	No	macOS, Windows, Linux +1	5 of 5	40.0

1. BrunoTop pick
Best for: Developers who want API collections stored in Git, offline
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
68.8
score / 100
Why switch from Postman
Offline, file-based collections stored in Git, with Postman import.
Pros
Collections are plain files in Git
No cloud account required
Imports Postman collections
Cons
No built-in cloud collaboration
Younger plugin ecosystem
Visit Bruno Compare with Postman Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Bruno a good Postman alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Open source
Yes
Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Offline-first
Yes
Checked Oct 24, 2026usebruno.com(opens source in a new tab)
Git-friendly
Collections stored as files
Checked Oct 24, 2026usebruno.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Insomnia
Best for: Developers who want an open-source desktop API client
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from Postman
Open-source desktop client with local or Git storage.
Pros
Open source
Local, Git or cloud storage
Clean interface
Cons
Account prompts in recent versions
Collaboration needs paid plans
Visit Insomnia Compare with Postman Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Insomnia a good Postman alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Open source
Yes
Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Maker
Kong
Checked Oct 24, 2026insomnia.rest(opens source in a new tab)
Free plan
Yes
Checked Oct 24, 2026insomnia.rest(opens source in a new tab)
3. Hoppscotch
Best for: Quick browser-based API testing and self-hosted team workspaces
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted
61.8
score / 100
Why switch from Postman
Lightweight browser client that you can self-host for your team.
Pros
Runs in the browser
Open source and self-hostable
Supports many protocols
Cons
Fewer advanced testing features than Postman
Browser CORS limits need a proxy or extension
Visit Hoppscotch Compare with Postman Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Hoppscotch a good Postman alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Open source
Yes
Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Self-hosting
Yes
Checked Oct 24, 2026hoppscotch.com(opens source in a new tab)
Runs in browser
Yes
Checked Oct 24, 2026hoppscotch.com(opens source in a new tab)
4. HTTPie
Best for: Developers who test APIs from the terminal
FreeOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
55.9
score / 100
Why switch from Postman
Readable command-line requests plus a simple 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 ×0.369
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 Postman 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)
5. Thunder Client
Best for: Developers who want to test APIs without leaving VS Code or a JetBrains IDE
Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux
40.0
score / 100
Why switch from Postman
A lightweight client inside VS Code or JetBrains if Postman feels heavy.
Pros
Runs inside VS Code and JetBrains IDEs
Requests can live in your Git repository
Cheap individual plan
WebSocket, SSE and gRPC support
Cons
Free tier has usage limits
Some formerly free features now need a paid plan
Less suited to very large collections
Visit Thunder Client Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.312
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 Thunder Client a good Postman alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starter plan
$3 per user/month, billed annually
Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
IDEs
VS Code, JetBrains
Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
Founded
2021
Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
Downloads
7 million+
Checked Oct 25, 2026thunderclient.com(opens source in a new tab)
6. Yaak
Best for: Developers who want a fast, private desktop client and dislike cloud accounts
Free plan + paidOpen sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux
40.0
score / 100
Why switch from Postman
A fast, local-first desktop client with no account, free for personal use.
Pros
REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket and SSE in one app
Local-first, no account, no telemetry
Git-friendly file sync
MIT-licensed source
Cons
Commercial use needs a paid licence
Smaller plugin ecosystem than Postman
Limited real-time team collaboration
Visit Yaak Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.312
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 Yaak a good Postman alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
License
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Personal use
Free
Checked Oct 25, 2026yaak.app(opens source in a new tab)
Individual licence
$79 per year
Checked Oct 25, 2026yaak.app(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Mac, Windows, Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026yaak.app(opens source in a new tab)
Telemetry
None in desktop app
Checked Oct 25, 2026yaak.app(opens source in a new tab)
Kr
7. Kreya
Best for: Teams building gRPC services who want a local, Git-friendly API client
Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, Linux
40.0
score / 100
Why switch from Postman
Local, Git-friendly desktop client with especially strong gRPC tooling.
Pros
Excellent gRPC support with protobuf import
Projects stored as files for Git
Offline enterprise licence with no account
Unix sockets and named pipes supported
Cons
Scripting and tests need a paid tier
Smaller community and fewer integrations
No web version
Visit Kreya Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.312
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 Kreya a good Postman alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Protocols
gRPC, REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, SSE
Checked Oct 25, 2026kreya.app(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026kreya.app(opens source in a new tab)
Free version
Yes, for individuals
Checked Oct 25, 2026kreya.app(opens source in a new tab)
Offline licence
Yes, no account needed
Checked Oct 25, 2026kreya.app(opens source in a new tab)
8. Apidog
Best for: Teams that want API design, testing, mocks and docs in a single tool
Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted
40.0
score / 100
Why switch from Postman
Similar all-in-one design, testing, mocks and docs, with an on-premises option.
Pros
Design, debugging, mocking, testing and docs together
Imports from Postman and Insomnia
On-premises edition available
EU data region
Cons
Busy interface with a learning curve
Collaboration relies on the cloud service
Main website needs JavaScript, so details are hard to check
Visit Apidog Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.312
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 Apidog a good Postman alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Mocking
Smart and custom mocks
Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.apidog.com(opens source in a new tab)
Self-hosting
On-premises edition
Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.apidog.com(opens source in a new tab)
Data location
EU option
Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.apidog.com(opens source in a new tab)
Response validation
Against your schema
Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.apidog.com(opens source in a new tab)
9. Requestly
Best for: Teams moving off Postman who want local, Git-based collections
PaidmacOS, Windows, Linux, Browser extension
40.0
score / 100
Why switch from Postman
Imports Postman collections and scripts, with local Git-based projects.
Pros
Imports Postman collections and scripts
Local projects as plain files with Git workflows
Browser traffic interception tools
SOC 2 and enterprise controls
Cons
No ongoing free plan for the API client
Product focus has shifted quickly
Interception tools priced separately
Visit Requestly Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.312
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 Requestly a good Postman alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free trial
30 days, no card
Checked Oct 25, 2026requestly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Team plan
$10 per user/month, billed annually
Checked Oct 25, 2026requestly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026requestly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Owner
BrowserStack
Checked Oct 25, 2026requestly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Compliance
SOC 2
Checked Oct 25, 2026requestly.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Postman alternative for…

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

Best Postman alternative for most people

Bruno

Offline, file-based collections stored in Git, with Postman import.

Best Postman alternative for a free option

Insomnia

Open-source desktop client with local or Git storage.

Best Postman alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Thunder Client

A lightweight client inside VS Code or JetBrains if Postman feels heavy.

Best Postman alternative for open source

Hoppscotch

Lightweight browser client that you can self-host for your team.

Best Postman alternative for self-hosting

Apidog

Similar all-in-one design, testing, mocks and docs, with an on-premises option.

Best Postman alternative for Mac

HTTPie

Readable command-line requests plus a simple desktop app.

Best Postman alternative for Windows

Yaak

A fast, local-first desktop client with no account, free for personal use.

Best Postman alternative for Linux

Kreya

Local, Git-friendly desktop client with especially strong gRPC tooling.

Best Postman alternative for working in the browser

Hoppscotch

Lightweight browser client that you can self-host for your team.

Postman alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Postman?

Bruno ranks first right now. Offline, file-based collections stored in Git, with Postman import. Insomnia and Hoppscotch follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Postman?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Postman?

Yes: Bruno, Insomnia, Hoppscotch and HTTPie, plus 1 more in the list above. Hoppscotch can also be self-hosted.

Which Postman alternatives work on Linux?

Bruno, Insomnia, Hoppscotch, HTTPie and Thunder Client run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Postman?

The complaints we hear most: pushes cloud accounts and sync; heavy for simple request testing.

How is this list ranked?

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

Quick comparison

1. BrunoTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Insomnia

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. Hoppscotch

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. HTTPie

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. Thunder Client

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

6. Yaak

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

7. Kreya

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

8. Apidog

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

9. Requestly

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

The best Postman alternative for…

Best Postman alternative for most people

Best Postman alternative for a free option

Best Postman alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Best Postman alternative for open source

Best Postman alternative for self-hosting

Best Postman alternative for Mac

Best Postman alternative for Windows

Best Postman alternative for Linux

Best Postman alternative for working in the browser

Postman alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Postman?

Is there a free alternative to Postman?

Is there an open-source alternative to Postman?

Which Postman alternatives work on Linux?

Why do people switch from Postman?

How is this list ranked?