Bruno may suit developers who want API collections stored and reviewed with Git.
Free plan Free trial Open source From $6 a month, billed yearly WindowsMacLinuxBrowser extensionAPISelf-hosted
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Best Api 1 2026
Facts read 20 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026
This finder covers API tools for teams choosing a gateway, API specification workflow or developer portal. It helps you compare access models, deployment choices and published controls.
The standings: top 10
| Name | In a line | Record score | Price from | Try it free | Runs on | Facts read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Bruno | Bruno may suit developers who want API collections stored and reviewed with Git. | 6.1 | $6 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux, Browser extension | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 02 Apidog | Apidog suits teams that design and test APIs, particularly those using specifications, automated request sequences, or Postman scripts. | 6.0 | $9 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 03 Scalar | Scalar suits developers and teams creating API documentation, client libraries, or API registries. | 6.0 | $150 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 04 Insomnia | Insomnia suits developers and teams that design, test or govern APIs and want collaboration or CI/CD workflows. | 5.8 | $12 a month | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux, Self-hosted | 30 Sep 2026 |
| 05 Amazon API Gateway | It suits teams building APIs for applications and backend services, especially those working with AWS services. | 5.7 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, API | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 06 Postman | Postman suits developers and teams that need API design, testing, documentation, or monitoring tools. | 5.7 | $9 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 29 Sep 2026 |
| 07 SwaggerHub | SwaggerHub suits API teams and cross-functional contributors who need shared design, documentation, testing, or governance workflows. | 5.4 | $740 a year | Free plan | Web, Self-hosted | 29 Sep 2026 |
| 08 Fern | Fern may suit teams publishing API documentation and generating client libraries from API specifications. | 5.3 | Free plan | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 09 Mockoon | 5.2 | €10 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 4 Oct 2026 | |
| 10 Redocly | Redocly suits developers, technical writers, product managers, and executives responsible for API documentation or governance. | 5.2 | $10 a month | Free plan | Web, Browser extension, API | 30 Sep 2026 |
The list puts newer releases before older ones, using figures the makers publish. Use the published details to compare free plans, entry-level paid pricing, API gateways, specification support, rate limits, free-tier calls and developer portals.
02
Apidog
Apidog suits teams that design and test APIs, particularly those using specifications, automated request sequences, or Postman scripts.
WebWindowsMac+4 Record6.0 Visit
03
Scalar
Scalar suits developers and teams creating API documentation, client libraries, or API registries.
WebWindowsMac+3 Record6.0 Visit
04
Insomnia
Insomnia suits developers and teams that design, test or govern APIs and want collaboration or CI/CD workflows.
WindowsMacLinux+1 Record5.8 Visit
05
Amazon API Gateway
It suits teams building APIs for applications and backend services, especially those working with AWS services.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+1 Record5.7 Visit
6
Postman
WebWindowsMac+2 $9 a month, billed yearly Record5.7 Visit Postman suits developers and teams that need API design, testing, documentation, or monitoring tools.
7
SwaggerHub
WebSelf-hosted $740 a year Record5.4 Visit SwaggerHub suits API teams and cross-functional contributors who need shared design, documentation, testing, or governance workflows.
8
Fern
WebWindowsMac+3 Free plan Record5.3 Visit Fern may suit teams publishing API documentation and generating client libraries from API specifications.
10
Redocly
WebBrowser extensionAPI $10 a month Record5.2 Visit Redocly suits developers, technical writers, product managers, and executives responsible for API documentation or governance.
11
KrakenD API Gateway
WindowsMacLinux+1 Free plan Record4.7 Visit It suits teams that need to compose API responses, manage traffic, and apply authentication controls in a self-hosted gateway.
12
Fusio
WebLinuxAPI+1 Free plan Record4.6 Visit Fusio suits builders who want to self-host API management and connect existing infrastructure or custom scripts.
14
Tyk API Management
WebLinuxAPI+1 Free plan Record4.6 Visit Tyk may suit teams that need API lifecycle management across cloud, hybrid, or self-managed deployments.
15
Stoplight Elements
WebSelf-hosted Free plan Record4.4 Visit Elements may suit developers who want to add interactive OpenAPI documentation to an existing site or HTML project.
17
Apache APISIX
LinuxAPISelf-hosted Free plan Record4.2 Visit APISIX suits teams that want to self-manage API, microservice, or LLM traffic on Linux, bare metal, or Kubernetes.
Before you choose
Start with the access model
Items on this list offer free plans, including Amazon API Gateway, Apache APISIX, Apidog, Bruno, Fern, Fusio, Gravitee API Management and Insomnia. Paid and freemium models also appear.
Check whether the free offer fits your work, then review the paid entry point. Apidog lists paid plans from $9 per user per month on annual billing, while Bruno lists $6 per user per month on annual billing.
Match the deployment option
You can compare options for web, Linux, self-hosted, Windows, macOS and API deployments. Choose the option that matches where your team runs its tools and services.
Open-source code is available from items on the list. Fusio lists an open-source plan, and Apache APISIX uses a free pricing model.
Check gateway and traffic controls
Compare API gateway support, API specification support and rate limiting before choosing a tool. Review the published free-tier API call allowance as a separate check.
A developer portal can matter when you need a place to present API information to developers.
Use a trial when available
A free trial can give you time to review a paid tool before committing. Trial periods listed include 14 days for Apidog, Bruno, Gravitee API Management and Bump.sh, 60 days for Google Apigee, and 30 days for IBM API Connect.
Read the maker's price note
Price notes differ across tools. Amazon API Gateway lists a starting price of $1, Bump.sh lists $50 per month, and IBM API Connect lists $83 per month on annual billing.
Azure API Management lists pricing on request. Confirm the current price and plan terms before you choose.
Questions
Which API tools list a free plan?
Examples of tools with a free plan include Amazon API Gateway, Apache APISIX, Apidog, Bruno, Fern, Fusio, Gravitee API Management and Insomnia.
Which tools list open-source code?
Fusio lists an open-source plan. Open-source code is also an offer found among tools in this category.
Which API tools offer a free trial?
Trial listings include 14 days for Bump.sh, Apidog and Bruno, 60 days for Google Apigee, and 30 days for IBM API Connect.
What deployment options can I compare?
The comparison includes web, Linux, self-hosted, Windows, macOS and API deployment options.
What API features are compared?
Comparison points include API gateway support, API specification support, rate limiting, free-tier API calls and developer portals.
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