Postman Alternatives in 2025: Choosing the Best API Development Tool

Introduction

In 2025, APIs power more than 80% of internet traffic, enabling seamless connections across apps, services, and devices. As software teams become more distributed and integrations more complex, choosing the right API development tool is no longer optional—it’s critical.

While Postman remains the market leader, many developers are actively exploring Postman alternatives that better fit their workflow, budget, or technology stack. This guide compares the best API testing tools in 2025—from Insomnia and Hoppscotch to ReadyAPI and Thunder Client—so you can confidently pick what’s best for your team.

If you're looking to optimize your development workflow beyond API testing, consider exploring the right test management tool for your needs in our comparison of TestRail vs. Alternatives: Which Test Management Tool Should You Choose?

What Makes a Great API Development Tool in 2025?

When evaluating the best API development tools, consider:

• Key Features: API request builders, test suites, support for REST, GraphQL, SOAP, WebSocket.

• Integrations: CI/CD, Git-based version control, IDEs like VS Code.

• Collaboration: Shared workspaces, access controls, history tracking.

• Pricing: Free tiers for individuals, scalable enterprise options.

• Performance: Lightweight usage, fast test execution, mocking, automation.

Postman: The Industry Standard

Why It’s Still Leading

Postman started as a Chrome extension in 2012 and has grown into the leading API development platform, boasting over 30 million users by 2025. It’s a go-to for developers across industries like fintech, healthcare, and e-commerce. At Quash, our own dev tools use Postman under the hood to streamline API testing.

Key Features

• Collections & Environments

• Automation via Newman CLI

• Monitoring & Mocking

• AI Test Generation (2025 update)

• Spec Hub for unified API design

Pros

• Great for complex microservices workflows

• Deep integrations: GitHub, Jenkins, Slack

• Robust documentation tools

Cons

• Resource-heavy on large projects

• Learning curve for advanced features

• Free tier limited to 3 users

Insomnia vs Postman: A Developer-First Alternative

Insomnia, backed by Kong, is a lightweight Postman alternative emphasizing simplicity and developer workflows. It supports REST, GraphQL, and gRPC.

Differentiators

• Design-First Approach: API design before coding, ideal for parallel development. Cleaner UI with fewer distractions

• Git Sync: Native version control integration.

• GraphQL Support: Robust querying and schema exploration.

Limitations

• Limited mocking compared to Postman.

• Smaller plugin ecosystem.

• Advanced features require paid plans.

Best For

• Small dev teams and startups

• Those who want an alternative to Postman with faster performance

ReadyAPI vs Postman: Enterprise-Grade Testing

SmartBear’s SoapUI (open-source) and ReadyAPI (commercial) are enterprise-grade tools excelling in API testing for REST, SOAP, and legacy systems.

Standout Features

• SOAP Support: SoapUI’s robust SOAP testing makes it ideal for industries like banking and telecom with legacy systems.

• Security Testing: Vulnerability scans and penetration testing.

• Load Testing: Simulate high-traffic scenarios.

• Service Virtualization: Mock APIs for testing without dependencies.

Limitation

• Learning Curve: More complex than Postman, requiring training for non-technical users.

Why It Wins

• Automation: Strong CI/CD integration with Jenkins and Azure DevOps, surpassing Postman in enterprise workflows.

• Best-Fit Scenarios: ReadyAPI suits large organizations needing comprehensive testing, especially for SOAP APIs or regulated industries.

Thunder Client: A Lightweight VS Code Extension

Thunder Client is built for developers who want to stay inside VS Code while testing APIs. It’s fast, minimal, and gets the job done without eating resources.

Standout Features

• IDE Integration: Test APIs without switching tools.

• Lightweight: Minimal resource usage compared to Postman.

• Feature Comparison: Offers collections, environments, and scripting but lacks Postman’s advanced mocking and monitoring.

Ideal For

• Solo developers

• Lightweight REST testing within IDE

• Machines with limited resources

Hoppscotch: The Open-Source Postman Alternative

Hoppscotch is a web-based, open-source Postman alternative focused on privacy and simplicity, supporting REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket.

Highlights

• Open-Source & Self-Hosted: Community-driven updates, Transparent codebase, Full control for privacy-conscious teams.

• Feature Parity: Lacks Postman’s advanced automation and monitoring but offers real-time collaboration and code generation.

• Privacy Benefits: Local-first storage for data privacy, unlike Postman’s cloud reliance.

• Cost Advantage: Free for most features, with enterprise plans at $19/user/month.

Use Cases

• Startups or teams avoiding cloud lock-in

• Developers looking for free, flexible API testing tools

Paw: The Mac-Only API Client

Paw, now part of RapidAPI, is a Mac-exclusive API client with native performance and a polished UI.

Strengths

• UI/UX Advantages: Sleek design and intuitive request builder.

• Native Performance: Optimized for macOS, offering faster execution than cross-platform tools like Postman.

• Code Generation: Supports multiple languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript), rivaling Postman.

Limitations

• Mac-exclusive

• Not ideal for cross-platform teams

cURL vs Postman: Command-Line Power Tools

cURL and HTTPie remain vital for developers who prefer automation and scripting. While they lack GUI features, they integrate tightly with CI/CD.

Pros

• Perfect for scripted tests

  • cURL: Scriptable for CI/CD pipelines.

  • HTTPie: User-friendly syntax for quick requests.

• Works well with cron jobs, bash scripts

• Complementary Usage: CLI tools excel in automated workflows, complementing GUI tools like Postman. Use alongside Postman for scripting repetitive tasks.

Limitation

• Learning Curve: Requires command-line proficiency, less intuitive than Postman’s GUI.

Feature Comparison Table (2025)

Choosing the Best API Development Tool for 2025

Based on Team Size:

• Solo Devs: Thunder Client, Hoppscotch

• Small Teams: Insomnia, Postman

• Enterprises: ReadyAPI, Postman

Based on Project Type:

• Simple Projects: Thunder Client, Hoppscotch

• Microservices: Postman, ReadyAPI

• Heavy SOAP: ReadyAPI

Based on Budget:

• Free Tools: Insomnia, Hoppscotch, SoapUI

• Scalable Enterprise Plans: Postman, ReadyAPI

API Types

• REST: All tools.

• GraphQL: Insomnia, Hoppscotch.

• SOAP: SoapUI/ReadyAPI.

Integration Needs

• CI/CD: Postman, ReadyAPI, cURL.

• Version Control: Insomnia, Postman.

Future Trends in API Development Tools

• AI Integration: Tools like Postman are adding AI-driven test generation, reducing manual effort by 25%.

• Low-Code Movement: Platforms like Testsigma enable non-technical users to create API tests.

• API Security: Enhanced focus on vulnerability scanning, with ReadyAPI leading.

• Market Evolution: Open-source tools like Hoppscotch are gaining traction for cost and transparency.

Final Take: Which Postman Alternative Should You Choose?

Postman is still king—but it’s not your only option. In fact, the rise of powerful Postman alternatives like Insomnia, Hoppscotch, and ReadyAPI means you can now tailor your stack to your exact needs.

TL;DR Recommendations:

• 💻 Solo dev? Go with Thunder Client or Hoppscotch

• 👥 Small team? Try Insomnia for speed and Git integration

• 🏢 Enterprise-grade testing? ReadyAPI all the way

• ⚙️ Need automation? Combine Postman + cURL for max power

Choosing the right stack doesn’t stop at APIs. If you're also weighing CI/CD tools, our TeamCity vs Jenkins comparison breaks down what matters most for modern pipelines.