Best Postman Alternatives for 2026: Top 5 Tools Compared

Postman dominates API development, but its 2024 shift to mandatory cloud sync and tiered pricing pushed many teams toward alternatives. Enterprise costs can climb quickly, and some organizations need offline-first workflows or tighter Git integration than Postman offers.

These five alternatives take different approaches: streamlined GraphQL support, browser-based speed, Git-native storage, IDE integration, and full lifecycle management.

Here's how they compare and when each makes sense for IT teams evaluating their options.

Top Alternatives to Postman

Here's how the leading Postman alternatives compare across key features and differentiators for IT teams evaluating their options.

Alternative #1—Insomnia

Insomnia stands out as Postman's most direct competitor, offering a streamlined approach to API development without sacrificing essential features. Originally built as a simple REST client, it has evolved into a comprehensive platform that prioritizes developer experience through clean design and efficient workflows. The tool excels particularly in GraphQL testing and provides robust collaboration features through seamless integration with Git repositories, making it attractive to teams seeking a more focused alternative to Postman's feature-heavy approach.

What Does Insomnia Do

Insomnia serves as a complete API development platform covering design, testing, debugging, and collaboration across REST, GraphQL, and gRPC protocols. Teams use it to build and organize API requests into collections, create mock servers for parallel development, automate testing workflows, and generate comprehensive documentation from their API collections.

Insomnia Differentiators

• Native Git integration for local, cloud, and repository-based collaboration without Postman's mandatory cloud sync
• Superior GraphQL support with schema introspection and query autocompletion
• Minimalist interface that reduces cognitive overhead compared to Postman's complex feature set
• Open-source foundation providing transparency and community-driven development
• Unlimited private projects on the free tier versus Postman's 3-user limitation

Insomnia Pros

• Clean, fast interface optimized for developer productivity
• Excellent GraphQL capabilities with advanced schema support
• Flexible collaboration through Git, cloud, or local storage options
• Strong debugging tools with built-in response visualization
• No artificial limits on core functionality in free tier

Insomnia Pricing

• Essentials: Free with unlimited cloud/local projects, Git sync for up to 3 users, and Inso CLI access
• Pro: $12/user/month with unlimited Git sync users, RBAC, and 10,000 mock requests
• Enterprise: $45/user/month with SSO, SCIM, vault integrations, and unlimited mock requests

How Siit Works With Insomnia

Insomnia handles your API requests. Siit handles the operational requests around them. When a developer needs access to a shared Insomnia workspace, an API key for a third-party service, or credentials for a staging environment, Siit picks up the request in Slack, routes approval to the right manager, and provisions access through Okta or Google Workspace. No chasing down IT in side threads.

Alternative #2—Hoppscotch

Hoppscotch revolutionizes API testing by delivering a lightning-fast, browser-based experience that eliminates installation overhead while supporting modern protocols beyond REST. Formerly known as Postwoman, this open-source platform has gained significant traction among developers who value speed and simplicity over comprehensive feature sets. Its Progressive Web App (PWA) architecture makes it easily accessible in the browser while maintaining the convenience of web-based tools, making it particularly attractive for teams seeking immediate productivity without setup friction.

What Does Hoppscotch Do

Hoppscotch provides comprehensive API testing capabilities through an intuitive web interface, supporting REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and Server-Sent Events protocols. Developers use it to quickly build and test requests, organize collections, collaborate in real-time, and visualize responses—all without downloading or installing software.

Hoppscotch Differentiators

• Zero-installation browser-based approach with PWA support for offline use
• Multi-protocol support including WebSocket and SSE beyond standard REST/GraphQL
• Hoppscotch's core is free and open-source, but there are paid plans and enterprise editions that unlock additional premium features
• Real-time collaborative features that use workspaces require users to sign in or create an account
• Extremely fast performance optimized for quick API exploration and debugging

Hoppscotch Pros

• Instant access through any web browser without software installation
• Full feature set available at no cost with open-source transparency
• Quick response times and minimal resource consumption
• Built-in response visualization tools for better data interpretation
• No account required for basic usage, reducing onboarding friction

Hoppscotch Pricing

• Free: Unlimited workspaces, collections, requests, and runners with community support
• Organization: $6/user/month (billed annually) with admin dashboard, dedicated support, and custom payment options
• Enterprise (Self-Host): Contact sales for on-premise deployment with SAML SSO and audit logs

How Siit Works With Hoppscotch

Hoppscotch runs in the browser with zero setup, but developers still need access to the APIs they're testing — staging credentials, service account keys, VPN access for internal endpoints. Siit automates that coordination. Requests come in through Slack or Teams, get routed to the right approver, and the developer gets an update in the same thread once access is provisioned.

Alternative #3—Bruno

Bruno disrupts traditional API testing by embracing Git-native workflows and offline-first architecture, appealing to developers who prefer version control integration over cloud-dependent platforms. This open-source tool offers both GUI and CLI interfaces, enabling teams to manage API collections as code alongside their projects. Bruno's approach resonates particularly with developers seeking to eliminate vendor lock-in while maintaining full control over their API testing data through familiar Git workflows and local storage.

What Does Bruno Do

Bruno handles complete API testing workflows through desktop GUI and command-line interfaces, supporting request organization, environment management, automated testing, and documentation generation. Teams use it to version control their API collections alongside code repositories, enabling collaborative development without cloud dependencies.

Bruno Differentiators

• Git-native integration treating API collections as version-controlled assets
• Fully offline-first design eliminating cloud sync requirements and vendor lock-in
• Dual interface approach with both GUI and CLI for different workflow preferences
• No collection run limits or artificial restrictions on core functionality
• Complete open-source model with transparent development and community contributions

Bruno Pros

• Native Git integration for seamless version control workflows
• Works completely offline without internet connectivity requirements
• Free forever with no premium tiers or feature restrictions
• Quick setup process taking minutes rather than complex configuration
• Command-line interface perfect for CI/CD pipeline integration

Bruno Pricing

• Free: Full API testing functionality with unlimited collections, offline access, Git integration, and CLI support
• Pro: $6/month with advanced Git client, OpenAPI design tools, and priority support
• Ultimate: $11/month with enterprise features, advanced automation, and team management

How Siit Works With Bruno

Bruno stores collections locally and syncs through Git, which means developers need repo access, environment secrets, and sometimes infrastructure permissions to test against live systems. Siit handles those requests: access to a private repo, credentials for a protected API, or a security exception for a new integration. IT stays in the loop without becoming a bottleneck.

Alternative #4—Thunder Client

Thunder Client transforms VS Code into a complete API testing environment through a lightweight extension that eliminates context switching for developers. This minimalist approach focuses on essential functionality while integrating seamlessly with the most popular code editor, making API testing feel natural within existing development workflows. Thunder Client particularly appeals to solo developers and small teams who prefer keeping all their tools within the IDE rather than managing separate applications.

What Does Thunder Client Do

Thunder Client provides comprehensive API testing capabilities directly within VS Code, supporting REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and gRPC protocols through an integrated interface. Developers use it to create and manage request collections, handle authentication, organize environments, and test APIs without leaving their code editor.

Thunder Client Differentiators

• Native VS Code integration eliminating need for separate API testing applications
• Minimal resource footprint with lightweight extension architecture
• No internet connection required for core functionality and offline usage
• Direct integration with development workflow reducing context switching overhead
• Extremely simple interface focused on essential API testing without feature bloat

Thunder Client Pros

• Seamless integration within VS Code development environment
• No login requirements or account creation needed
• Lightweight design with minimal performance impact
• Support for advanced authentication methods including OAuth2 and Kerberos in Pro version
• Perfect for developers who rarely leave their IDE

Thunder Client Pricing

• Free: Non-commercial use only; no collections or environments (as of August 2025)
• Starter: $3/user/month with team features, CLI/CI-CD, WebSocket/SSE/gRPC, and 250 collection runs
• Business: $7/user/month with 500 collection runs and invoice payment
• Enterprise: $16/user/month with unlimited runs, SSO, encrypted environments, and secrets manager integration
• Individual (one-time): $49 perpetual license for personal use; excludes WebSocket, CLI/CI-CD, and enterprise features

How Siit Works With Thunder Client

Thunder Client keeps API testing inside VS Code, but developers still generate IT requests outside the editor: new tool licenses, access to internal APIs, credentials for testing environments. Siit routes those requests through Slack, coordinates approval with IT, and provisions access through your identity provider. Developers stay in their IDE while IT keeps visibility.

Alternative #5—Apidog

Apidog positions itself as a comprehensive Postman replacement by combining API design, development, testing, and documentation in a unified platform optimized for full lifecycle management. The tool emphasizes team collaboration and multi-platform availability while maintaining competitive pricing for growing organizations. Apidog particularly appeals to teams seeking feature parity with Postman but with more streamlined workflows and better value for money across the complete API development process.

What Does Apidog Do

Apidog covers the entire API lifecycle from initial design through production monitoring, offering tools for specification creation, request testing, mock server generation, automated testing, and team collaboration. Development teams use it to maintain consistent API standards, streamline testing workflows, and coordinate between frontend and backend development through comprehensive mocking capabilities.

Apidog Differentiators

• Full-featured API lifecycle management combining design, testing, and documentation
• Multi-platform availability across Mac, Windows, Linux, and web browsers
• Competitive pricing structure offering better value than Postman for team plans
• Strong all-rounder capabilities with clear specialization in API-first workflows, multi-protocol support, and AI-driven testing and integration features
• Integrated approach reducing need for multiple tools in API development pipeline

Apidog Pros

• Broad feature set covering most of Postman's core capabilities at a lower cost, but with notable gaps in monitoring, integrations, protocol coverage, and enterprise-scale features
• Available across all major operating systems and web browsers
• Strong team collaboration features with shared workspaces
• Integrated documentation generation from API specifications
• Good balance of functionality and usability for diverse team needs

Apidog Pricing

• Free: Up to 5 projects and 4 team members
• Basic: $9/user/month with expanded limits and collaboration features
• Enterprise: From $27/user/month (on-premises) or custom pricing for cloud deployment

​​How Siit Works With Apidog

Apidog covers the full API lifecycle, but teams still need operational support around it — license provisioning for new team members, access to shared workspaces, and credentials for connected services. Siit automates that flow. Requests come in through Slack or Teams, approvals route to the right people, and access gets provisioned without manual back-and-forth.

How Siit Fits Into Your API Workflow

Your API client handles requests and testing. Siit handles the access requests, approvals, and provisioning that keep your team unblocked. Whichever tool you pick, Siit connects to the systems around it — Slack, Teams, Okta, Google Workspace, and your HRIS — to automate the operational overhead.

Book a demo to see how Siit fits into your DevOps stack.