Postman review
API platform for testing, documenting and sharing APIs
- Postman, Inc.
- Free + paid plans
- Mac, Windows, Linux, Web
Does it deserve #8?
The verdict
Postman is the most complete tool for working with APIs. You can send requests, organize them into collections, write tests, generate docs, run mock servers and monitor endpoints, with support for REST, GraphQL, gRPC and WebSockets. Teams get shared workspaces and version control. The downsides are a heavy desktop app, constant nudges toward paid plans, and a push to store your work in Postman's cloud.
- Collections and environments
- Automated API tests
- Mock servers and monitors
- REST, GraphQL and gRPC support
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Covers the whole API lifecycle in one tool
- Easy to share collections with teammates
- Strong support for many API protocols
What could be better
- Desktop app is heavy and can feel slow
- Most work is stored in Postman's cloud
API developers and QA teams who test and document APIs together
you want a lightweight, offline API client that saves to local files
Questions about Postman
Is Postman free?
Yes, the free plan covers the core API client, collections and basic testing for individuals. Paid plans add team collaboration, higher limits on mocks and monitors, and admin controls.
Can I use Postman offline?
Partly. You can send requests in the lightweight API client without signing in, but saving collections and syncing your work requires a Postman account.
What are the best alternatives to Postman?
The closest alternatives are Visual Studio Code, GitHub and Linear. See all of them ranked on our Postman alternatives page.
Where does Postman rank?
Postman ranks #8 of 8 in our Developer Tools ranking, with an overall score of 7.8 out of 10.