Best API Clients in 2026
Updated
In short: Postman is ranked #1 of 38 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Apidog and SoapUI. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Apidog. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Bruno at $0.50/mo.
API clients support work such as sending requests, inspecting results, and working with API documentation. Compare documentation support and automated test runs, then check GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket support against the protocols your work requires. Available platforms and team workspaces can help you assess whether a tool fits your setup, whether you work alone or with others. Free-plan availability and paid starting prices provide cost context. Postman, Apidog, and SoapUI are among the options shown. Consider which protocol support, testing features, and collaboration capabilities matter to your API workflow.
38 API clients ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
17 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PostmanWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $9/mo | 8.1 | |
| 2 | ApidogWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $2.25/mo | 8.1 | |
| 3 | SoapUIWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 8.0 | |
| 4 | InsomniaWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $12/mo | 7.9 | |
| 5 | BrunoWindows · Mac · Linux · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $0.50/mo | 7.9 | |
| 6 | HoppscotchWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $6/mo | 7.7 | |
| 7 | TestfullyWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $1.17/mo | 7.6 | |
| 8 | OpenReqWeb · Windows · Self-hosted · Extension | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 9 | KreyaWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $5/mo | 7.5 | |
| 10 | Altair GraphQL ClientWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 11 | FirecampWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $4,959/mo | 7.4 | |
| 12 | httpYacSelf-hosted · Extension | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 7.2 | |
| 13 | Thunder ClientWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $3/mo | 7.1 | |
| 14 | VeghaWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.0 | |
| 15 | RESTKWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.8 | |
| 16 | grpcuiWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 17 | HTTPieWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 18 | HurlWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 19 | ReadyAPIWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.3 |
| 20 | RequestlyWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $10/mo | 6.3 |
| 21 | InsomniumWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.0 |
| 22 | WhoisJSON APINo platforms listed | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $10/mo | 6.0 | |
| 23 | grpcurlNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.9 |
| 24 | YaakWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | $6.58/mo | 5.9 |
| 25 | ChaparWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.8 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which API client is ranked first on Freedom251?
Postman is ranked #1 of 38 with a score of 8.1. Apidog is second and SoapUI third.
How many of these have a free plan?
17 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Bruno has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.50/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.