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 Development Tools 2026
Facts read 28 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026
API development tools support tasks such as designing, testing, mocking, documenting and deploying application programming interfaces. This guide lets developers weigh API work options for desktop, browser and self-hosted environments.
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 SoapUI | SmartBear describes SoapUI as a starting point for developers and testers working with API testing. | 6.1 | $1,069 a year | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux, API | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 03 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 |
| 04 Beeceptor | It suits developers, testers, and QA professionals working with API mocks for development, testing, integrations, CI pipelines, or customer demos. | 6.0 | $10 a month | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 05 HTTPie | HTTPie suits developers and teams who build tools, apps, and technologies and need to work with APIs. | 6.0 | $10 a month | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 06 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 |
| 07 Testfully | Testfully suits software engineers, DevOps engineers, and software testers who need API testing or monitoring. | 5.9 | $168 a year | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 28 Sep 2026 |
| 08 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 |
| 09 Pact | Pact suits development teams that own both consumer and provider applications and want to check integrations in isolation. | 5.8 | $115.42 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux, API | 4 Oct 2026 |
| 10 Thunder Client | 5.8 | $3 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux, Browser extension | 7 Oct 2026 |
Entries are ordered by newest releases first, using figures published by the makers. The page does not score tools; compare the listed plans and capabilities for your workflow.
02
SoapUI
SmartBear describes SoapUI as a starting point for developers and testers working with API testing.
WindowsMacLinux+2 Record6.1 Visit
03
Apidog
Apidog suits teams that design and test APIs, particularly those using specifications, automated request sequences, or Postman scripts.
WebWindowsMac+4 Record6.0 Visit
04
Beeceptor
It suits developers, testers, and QA professionals working with API mocks for development, testing, integrations, CI pipelines, or customer demos.
WebWindowsMac+3 Record6.0 Visit
05
HTTPie
HTTPie suits developers and teams who build tools, apps, and technologies and need to work with APIs.
WebWindowsMac+1 Record6.0 Visit
6
Scalar
WebWindowsMac+3 $150 a month, billed yearly Record6.0 Visit Scalar suits developers and teams creating API documentation, client libraries, or API registries.
7
Testfully
WebWindowsMac+2 $168 a year Record5.9 Visit Testfully suits software engineers, DevOps engineers, and software testers who need API testing or monitoring.
8
Insomnia
WindowsMacLinux+1 $12 a month Record5.8 Visit Insomnia suits developers and teams that design, test or govern APIs and want collaboration or CI/CD workflows.
9
Pact
WindowsMacLinux+2 $115.42 a month, billed yearly Record5.8 Visit Pact suits development teams that own both consumer and provider applications and want to check integrations in isolation.
11
Yaak
WindowsMacLinux $79 a year Record5.8 Visit Yaak suits API developers who need to send and debug requests, and teams that organize shared API work through Git.
12
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.
13
ReadyAPI
WebWindowsMac+3 — Record5.5 Visit ReadyAPI suits teams handling API functional, security, performance, or virtualization work.
14
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.
16
Kreya
WindowsMacLinux Free plan Record5.3 Visit Kreya suits developers who work with several API protocols and want testing or CI/CD workflows in a desktop client.
17
Assertible
WebAPI $25 a month Record5.2 Visit Assertible is aimed at QA professionals, developers and others responsible for operating a web service.
19
Redocly
WebBrowser extensionAPI $10 a month Record5.2 Visit Redocly suits developers, technical writers, product managers, and executives responsible for API documentation or governance.
20
Stainless
WebMacLinux Free plan Record5.0 Visit It suits teams turning OpenAPI specifications into SDKs, synchronized documentation, or MCP servers.
21
Hurl
WindowsMacLinux+1 Free plan Record4.8 Visit Hurl suits developers who want to run HTTP requests from the command line, test API sessions, or add request checks to CI/CD pipelines.
22
WireMock
WebLinuxAPI+1 Free plan Record4.8 Visit WireMock suits developers and teams that need to simulate APIs or services while building or testing dependent software.
24
Schemathesis
WindowsMacLinux+1 Free plan Record4.7 Visit Schemathesis suits engineers testing OpenAPI or GraphQL APIs and incorporating checks into CI/CD.
Before you choose
Compare plans and trials
Free plans appear among the entries from Apidog, Assertible, Beeceptor, Bruno, HTTPie, HTTP Toolkit, Hurl, Insomnia, Mockoon and OpenAPI Generator. Kreya is marked as freemium in the list.
Paid starts differ by tool. Annual billing shows Bruno at $6 per user per month, Apidog at $9 per user per month and Mockoon at $100 per month. Check the maker's current terms before choosing.
Trial access is listed for Apidog, Beeceptor, Bruno, Bump.sh and Insomnia.
Match the platform to your setup
The entries list support for Linux, macOS, Windows, web, self-hosted environments and API workflows. Check the platform label against the machines and deployment model you plan to use.
A browser-based option can suit teams that need web access, while a self-hosted or API option can fit controlled environments. Confirm the supported platform before committing to a plan.
Check the API workflow
Compare API design and API testing support for the work you need to do. Mock servers can help you build against responses before a live service is ready.
Look at which API specification formats each tool accepts or produces. Deployment support and version control integration matter when API changes move through a shared codebase.
Review code and licensing
Some tools in this category provide open-source code. Before reading, modifying or redistributing code, review the project's licence and contribution terms.
A free plan and open-source code describe different things. Verify both before selecting a tool for a personal project or a team workflow.
Questions
Are free plans available from API development tools?
Yes. Apidog, Assertible, HTTPie, Hurl and OpenAPI Generator are among the entries with free plans. Plan limits and paid features differ.
Which tools list a free trial?
Apidog, Beeceptor, Bruno, Bump.sh and Insomnia list trials. Apidog, Bruno, Bump.sh and Insomnia specify 14 days, while Beeceptor specifies 10 days.
Which platforms are supported by these tools?
The entries span Linux, macOS, Windows, web, self-hosted and API-based environments. Check the platform details for the tool you are considering.
What should I compare besides price?
Review support for API design, API testing, mock servers, API specification formats, deployment and version control.
Are open-source API tools included?
Yes. Some entries provide open-source code. Check the licence and project terms before using or changing the code.
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