When it comes to APIs, getting postman called is not so far.
APIs are so vital to keep the software up and running, and Postman helps in achieving just that.
Postman is not a new player when it comes to all-things-API. It’s been in the league for over 10 years now and has successfully established itself as a “go-to” tool as an API testing platform.
But when it is well-accepted by the dev community, what’s the need of an alternative then?
Well, we stay active on our socials, and that’s how we got to know that people are actually getting tired of postman’s feature bloat, the data storage issues and what not. And that’s how we thought to do this article to help you save yourself some time and the frustration that comes along.
And the internet is loaded with such posts where people are bashing postman and asking for alternatives. Before starting out with the alternatives, let’s get some understanding on the pros and cons of Postman.
Pros and cons of Postman for API testing
Postman has cemented its place as a popular API platform, winning praise on G2 for its:
User-friendliness: Postman's intuitive interface and smooth learning curve is for the win, making it accessible for developers of all experience levels.
Extensive Features: Postman goes beyond basic API testing. Features like environment management, collaboration tools, and mocking capabilities cater to a wide range of API development needs.
However, no tool is perfect, and Postman has its share of drawbacks according to G2 reviews:
SOAP API Limitations: While Postman now supports SOAP APIs, reviewers report a less user-friendly experience compared to its REST capabilities. Some wish for more flexibility and improved functionality for SOAP testing.
Resource Consumption: Postman can be resource-intensive, particularly for complex projects. This can lead to higher RAM usage and potentially slow down system performance.
Limited Script Reusability:
G2 reviewers highlight limitations in code and script reusability. Having to recreate test scripts for each project can be time-consuming and hinder efficiency.
Let’s look at the best Postman Alternatives
When the API testing landscape is expanding and new tools are always on the bloom, we’ve picked out the top 5 postman alternatives for API testing, that surely gives a tough call to Postman. We have covered both free and paid Postman alternatives. Let’s get started with discussing our postman alternatives:
1. HyperTest - Postman Alternative:
HyperTest automatically tests new code changes along with all their dependencies, including external services, APIs, databases, and message queues. This integrated approach happens right at the source code level, allowing developers to focus on development while catching integration issues early.
Benefits of HyperTest:
Reduced Integration Issues: Catching integration problems early in the development cycle leads to fewer bugs and smoother releases.
Minimized Technical Debt: Proactive testing reduces technical debt, keeping the codebase clean and maintainable for long-term development.
Improved Developer Productivity: By automating repetitive tasks, HyperTest allows developers to focus on creative problem-solving and innovation.
Faster Time to Market: Efficient testing processes lead to quicker deployment cycles and faster delivery of new features.
Website Link: https://www.hypertest.co/
Feature/Aspect | With Postman | With HyperTest |
What does it do? | API testing & documentation | Complete backend testing: Test APIs, database calls, message queues & inter-service contracts |
What will it not do? | Will not test database calls, async flows or message queues | Front-end testing: It will not test UI or cross browser testing |
Who are its users? | Developers, SDETs, test engineers and QAs | Only Developers |
Implementation | ||
How does it work? | Write API tests manually on Postman to test HTTP requests and responses | Record and Replay: Generates APIs tests automatically from real user traffic. 100% autonomous. |
Where are the tests run? | Using Postman runners and Newman (CLI) on Postman cloud | No dedicated or isolated environments needed. These tests can be run locally 100% on-prem |
How does one start? | Create API request in Postman and write validations on responses. Build collections by stacking API tests manually | 10-line SDK in the source code of repo. Records traffic and builds tests which can be replayed later using CLI |
Key Differences | ||
Scope | Limited. Just testing APIs | Comprehensive. APIs, database calls, queue producers & consumers |
Maintenance | Manual. Tests scripts need to be written and updated manually. Requires regular maintenance of test cases as APIs change | 100% autonomous or no-code. Automatically generates API tests by recording actual user flows. Auto updates all test cases and assertions as APIs change |
Quality of Tests | Poor. Depends on quality of assertions which are manually written | High. Quality programmatically generated assertions that cover schema & data to never miss errors |
Test Data Management | Yes. set pre-request scripts to seed and update test data before Postman tests are run | No. HyperTest uses data from traffic for tests and keeps it reusable. Handles both read & write requests |
Test databases? | No | Yes |
Test message queues? | No | Yes |
Test Coverage | Unknown. No way to measure test coverage | Measurable. Reports code coverage i.e. actual lines of code that are tested |
Test Execution Speed | High. Depends on response time of API and environment (db etc) | Very Less. Runs as fast as unit tests. Does not need dedicated environments |
Other Features | ||
CI/CD Integration | Integrates well with CI/CD tools but requires manual setup and maintenance. | Seamless integration with CI/CD pipelines, simplifying setup. |
Community and Support | Large community with extensive documentation and support resources. | Growing community with focused support for integration testing. |
User Interface | Developer-centric interface with robust tools for creating and managing API tests. | User-friendly interface focused on backend and API testing. |
Cost | Offers paid plans, with pricing based on features and usage. | Pricing varies based on usage and features, available both free and paid. |
Click here to learn more about How HyperTest takes care of your complete backend testing2. Insomnia - Postman Alternative:
With all the research that we did for this article, we can surely say that Insomnia was the highest called alternative to Postman.
It is a free, open-source platform that boasts a user-friendly interface and robust features like environment and collection management, code snippets, and test automation. Compared to Postman, Insomnia offers a lighter footprint and a more customizable workspace.
Website Link: https://insomnia.rest
Features | Insomnia | Postman |
Pricing | Free and open-source | Free and paid |
Interface | Graphical UI | Graphical UI |
Automation | Yes | Yes |
Mocking | Yes | Limited |
Customization | High | Moderate |
Pros:
Lightweight, highly customizable workspace, ideal for individual developers or small teams.
Cons:
Limited mocking capabilities compared to Postman, might lack some advanced features for larger-scale projects.
3. SoapUI - Postman Alternative:
This open-source tool caters specifically to SOAP and RESTful web services. SoapUI excels in security testing, with features like load testing and functional testing. While not as beginner friendly as Postman, SoapUI offers a comprehensive solution for more complex API testing needs.
Website Link: https://www.soapui.org/
Feature | Postman | SoapUI |
Pricing | Free and paid | Free and open-source |
Interface | Graphical UI | Graphical UI |
Automation | Yes | Yes |
Mocking | Limited | Yes |
Customization | Moderate | Moderate |
Specialty | - | SOAP and REST |
Pros:
Powerful for complex API testing, especially security aspects, caters specifically to SOAP and REST.
Cons:
Steeper learning curve compared to Postman, less intuitive interface for beginners.
4. REST Assured - Postman Alternative:
This free, Java-based library allows developers to write API tests directly in Java code. REST Assured integrates seamlessly with popular testing frameworks like JUnit and TestNG. While lacking a graphical interface, it offers powerful scripting capabilities for advanced users comfortable with coding.
Website Link: https://rest-assured.io/
Feature | Postman | REST Assured |
Pricing | Free and paid | Free and open-source |
Interface | Graphical UI | Java Library |
Automation | Yes | Powerful |
Mocking | Limited | Limited |
Customization | Moderate | High (Scripted) |
Platform | All | Java Only |
Pros:
Highly customizable and scriptable, ideal for Java developers comfortable with code-based testing.
Cons:
Lacks a graphical interface, requires coding knowledge, might not be suitable for non-technical users.
5. Thunder Client - Postman Alternative:
This free, feature-rich extension integrates seamlessly with VSCode, making it ideal for developers who prefer a unified environment. Thunder Client offers collection management, environment variables, and basic automation capabilities. It stands out for its tight integration with VSCode's debugging tools.
Website Link: https://www.thunderclient.com/
Feature | Postman | Thunder Client |
Pricing | Free and paid | Free |
Interface | Graphical UI | VS Code Extension |
Automation | Yes | Basic |
Mocking | Limited | Limited |
Customization | Moderate | Moderate |
Pros:
Seamless integration with VSCode, ideal for developers who prefer a unified environment.
Cons:
Limited functionality compared to Postman or Insomnia, might not be suitable for teams outside the VSCode ecosystem.
Ending thoughts on Postman alternatives…
In conclusion, while Postman remains a powerful tool for API testing, the landscape in 2025 offers a variety of alternatives, each with unique features catering to different testing needs.
From open-source projects like SoapUI to comprehensive platforms like HyperTest, developers have a wealth of options to choose from. These alternatives not only match Postman’s capabilities but also address some of its limitations, providing more specialized solutions for API testing and development.
