Hoppscotch
An API development tool for testing REST, GraphQL and WebSocket APIs, available as web, desktop and CLI apps.
80.7k GitHub stars · MIT · last code push Oct 28, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Free, open-source alternatives to Postman
API testing clients. Bruno stores collections as plain files in your repo; Hoppscotch runs in the browser.
Category: Developer tools · GitHub data as of Oct 29, 2026 · FAQ · Cost & self-hosting
| Project | What it is | License | GitHub stars | Last release | Runs as | Hosted plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoppscotch Active MIT | An API development tool for testing REST, GraphQL and WebSocket APIs, available as web, desktop and CLI apps. | MIT | 80.7k | Sep 30, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Yes, from the project |
| Bruno Active MIT | Opensource IDE For Exploring and Testing API's (lightweight alternative to Postman/Insomnia). | MIT | 47.9k | Oct 22, 2026 | Desktop app | Not confirmed |
| Insomnia Active Apache-2.0 | The open-source, cross-platform API client for GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, SSE and gRPC. With Cloud, Local and Git storage. | Apache-2.0 | 40.1k | Oct 29, 2026 | Desktop app | Yes, from the project |
Are they still maintained?
3 of 3 Postman alternatives here had a code push or release in the last 180 days (checked Oct 29, 2026).
- Hoppscotch: active, last activity Oct 28, 2026 (1 days ago)
- Bruno: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
- Insomnia: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
See every project in the "Is it still maintained?" tracker →
What switching from Postman costs
Postman: current plans and prices are on Postman's pricing page.
| Alternative | How you run it | Software cost | What you pay for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoppscotch | Your server, or the project's hosted plan | $0 (MIT) | A server you rent (or own), or the project's paid hosted plan. |
| Bruno | Desktop app | $0 (MIT) | Nothing to host. Install it on your own device. |
| Insomnia | Desktop app | $0 (Apache-2.0) | Nothing to host. Install it on your own device. |
Self-hosting basics: Hoppscotch needs a server, which can be a small cloud server or a spare machine at home. For a sense of scale, DigitalOcean's price list shows a 1 GiB server at $6/month and 2 GiB at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size, and budget time for updates and backups.
Don't want to run a server? Hoppscotch and Insomnia offer a hosted plan run by the project itself. Prices change, so check each project's site.
Nothing to host: Bruno and Insomnia run on your own computer.
The options in more detail
Bruno
Opensource IDE For Exploring and Testing API's (lightweight alternative to Postman/Insomnia).
47.9k GitHub stars · MIT · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Insomnia
The open-source, cross-platform API client for GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, SSE and gRPC. With Cloud, Local and Git storage.
40.1k GitHub stars · Apache-2.0 · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Postman alternatives: common questions
What is the best open-source alternative to Postman?
It depends on how you use Postman. Of the 3 options here, Hoppscotch is the most followed on GitHub (80.7k stars) and is actively maintained, with its latest release on Sep 30, 2026. If you want an app on your own computer, look at Bruno and Insomnia. If you need something your whole team can log into, look at Hoppscotch.
Is there a self-hosted Postman alternative?
Yes. Hoppscotch runs on a server you control, so your data stays with you. If you'd rather not run a server, Hoppscotch and Insomnia also offer a hosted plan from the people who make them.
Is there a free alternative to Postman?
Yes. Every project on this page can be downloaded and used at no cost from its public repository. Bruno and Insomnia install on your own device, so they cost nothing to run. Server apps are free software, but you pay for the server they run on.
Are these Postman alternatives still maintained?
As of Oct 29, 2026, 3 of 3 had a code push or release in the last 180 days. None are flagged as inactive or archived. We re-check every project weekly.
How much does it cost to switch from Postman?
The software itself is free. Desktop and device apps (Bruno and Insomnia) cost nothing to run. For server apps, the main cost is hosting: as a reference point, DigitalOcean lists a 1 GiB server at $6/month and a 2 GiB server at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size. The hidden cost is time: moving your data and, for self-hosted apps, keeping up with updates and backups.
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