Postman has long been a go-to tool for API testing, but its pricing can be a concern for many developers, especially small teams and individual users. If you're looking for cost-effective alternatives that offer powerful API testing features, here are some excellent options to consider.

Why Look for a Postman Alternative?

  • Pricing Concerns: Postman's free tier has limitations, and the premium plans can be expensive.
  • Feature Overload: Some users find Postman bloated with features they don’t use.
  • Performance Issues: Postman can be slow, especially when handling large API collections.
  • Limited Free API Calls: Free-tier users face restrictions on the number of API requests and collections they can create.

Best Affordable Alternatives to Postman

1. Apidog – All-in-One API Development & Testing Tool

Apidog — the all-in-one API development platform

Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans are cheaper than Postman.

Key Features:

  • API design, documentation, mocking, and testing in one platform.
  • Automated and manual API testing with detailed reports.
  • Supports GraphQL, REST, WebSocket APIs, SSE and more.
  • Collaboration features for teams with role-based access.

Why Choose Apidog?

  • More affordable pricing compared to Postman.
  • Seamless integration with CI/CD pipelines.
  • Built-in API mocking without additional setup.

Try Apidog

2. Hoppscotch – Open-Source API Testing Tool

Hoppscotch homepage

Pricing: Free and open-source; cloud version available.

Key Features:

  • Fast and lightweight with a browser-based UI.
  • Supports WebSocket, GraphQL, and SSE.
  • Real-time API collaboration.

Why Choose Hoppscotch?

  • Completely free with an open-source community.
  • Super lightweight compared to Postman.
  • Great for quick API testing without installations.

Try Hoppscotch

3. Thunder Client – API Testing Extension for VS Code

Thunder Client homepage

Pricing: Free with premium features at a lower cost than Postman.

Key Features:

  • Runs inside VS Code, reducing the need for an external app.
  • Supports REST, GraphQL, and environment variables.
  • Lightweight and fast.

Why Choose Thunder Client?

  • Ideal for VS Code users.
  • No need to switch between applications.
  • Cheaper than Postman for advanced features.

Try Thunder Client

Conclusion

Postman is a powerful API testing tool, but its pricing may not suit everyone. If you’re looking for an affordable or free alternative, Apidog stands out as the best all-in-one API testing solution with a lower cost than Postman. Other tools like Hoppscotch, and Thunder Client provide great alternatives depending on your needs.