The Best API Clients in 2026
We researched API clients from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation, then ranked them on the category’s core job, value for money and verified features. This guide helps teams choose tools for sending, exploring and documenting web API requests.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Postman#1 of 389.4/10A broad API workspace spanning requests, testing, mocking, specifications, and delivery workflows.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
SoapUI#2 of 389.2/10A mature, testing-focused API client for REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and CI workflows.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Apidog#3 of 388.8/10A broad API workspace for teams that want design, testing, mocks, and CI/CD together.
Free plan · 14-day trial
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 38 tools, best first
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Best forBroad API development teams
A broad API workspace spanning requests, testing, mocking, specifications, and delivery workflows.
- GraphQL support
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Postman -
Best forMature SOAP and API testing teams
A mature, testing-focused API client for REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and CI workflows.
- GraphQL support
9.2/10★★★★★Visit SoapUI -
Best forTeams wanting integrated API workflows
A broad API workspace for teams that want design, testing, mocks, and CI/CD together.
- GraphQL support
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Apidog verdict → Visit ApidogFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #3 · $79/mo →8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Apidog -
Best forDevelopers needing broad protocol support
A broad, capable API client whose paid collaboration tiers cost more.
- GraphQL support
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Insomnia verdict → Visit InsomniaFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #4 · $69/mo →8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Insomnia -
Best forOpen-source API development teams
An open-source API client for teams building, testing, and versioning collections in Git.
- GraphQL support
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Bruno verdict → Visit BrunoFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #5 · $59/mo →8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Bruno -
Best forEnterprise API quality engineering
A broad API quality platform for teams that need testing beyond request debugging.
- GraphQL support
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit ReadyAPI -
Best forHTTP and GraphQL request composition
A versatile HTTP and GraphQL client with strong editing and inspection tools.
- GraphQL support
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit HTTPie -
Best forText-based CI API testing
A focused open-source choice for text-based API tests in CI/CD.
- GraphQL support
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Hurl -
Best forTeams seeking an open-source collaborative client
A broad API client with a free plan, GraphQL tools, collection runs, and real-time collaboration.
- GraphQL support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Hoppscotch -
Best forTeams needing collaboration and imports
A broad API client for collaborative teams, with no permanent free plan.
- gRPC support
- API documentation
- Team workspaces
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Requestly -
Best forFree open-source API testing
A free, open-source API client with broad testing and documentation tools.
- API documentation
- Team workspaces
- Automated test runs
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit OpenReq -
Best forgRPC-focused API workflows
A strong gRPC-first desktop client with broad protocol support and Git-compatible projects.
- GraphQL support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Kreya -
Best forAPI testing and monitoring teams
A broad API toolkit for teams that need testing, monitoring, and collaboration.
- API documentation
- Team workspaces
- Automated test runs
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Testfully -
Best forOpen-source CLI and desktop users
A capable desktop API client for developers who want open-source CLI workflows.
- gRPC support
- API documentation
- Team workspaces
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit httpYac -
Best forGraphQL specialists and collaborative API teams
A strong GraphQL specialist with broad client features but a narrower API scope.
- API documentation
- Team workspaces
- WebSocket support
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Altair GraphQL -
Best forFree collaborative API exploration
A free, open-source API workspace for collaborative REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket work.
- API documentation
- Team workspaces
- Automated test runs
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Firecamp -
Best forBudget-conscious REST testers
A low-cost REST client for developers who want testing and CI/CD in their IDE.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Thunder Client -
Best forCommand-line gRPC operations
A focused, free command-line tool for inspecting and invoking gRPC services.
- gRPC support
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit grpcurl -
Best forOffline multi-protocol developers
A privacy-focused desktop client for offline, multi-protocol API work.
- gRPC support
- WebSocket support
- GraphQL support
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Insomnium -
Best forOpen-source desktop API teams
A capable open-source desktop API client for scripted, Git-backed workflows.
- gRPC support
- Automated test runs
- WebSocket support
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Vegha -
Best forFree desktop REST and GraphQL testing
A capable free desktop client for REST and GraphQL workflows.
- Team workspaces
- Automated test runs
- GraphQL support
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit RESTK -
Best forGit-oriented individual developers
A broad, Git-friendly API client for individual developers who value local workflows.
- GraphQL support
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Yaak -
Best forPrivate local API development
A private, open-source desktop client for local REST, gRPC, and GraphQL work.
- gRPC support
- GraphQL support
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Chapar -
Best forCross-platform request exploration
A capable open-source client for HTTP, GraphQL, WebSocket, and API response work.
- API documentation
- WebSocket support
- GraphQL support
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit API Dash -
Best forC# teams generating typed HTTP clients
A focused open-source library for generating typed C# HTTP clients from interfaces.
- Automated test runs
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Refit -
Best forLightweight open-source HTTP testing
A focused open-source client for HTTP, WebSocket, and automated response testing.
- Automated test runs
- WebSocket support
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Restfox -
Best forGraphQL schema exploration
A focused, free GraphQL client with strong schema tooling and limited general API coverage.
- WebSocket support
- GraphQL support
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit GraphiQL -
Best forBrowser-based gRPC debugging
A focused, open-source browser interface for exploring and debugging gRPC APIs.
- gRPC support
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit grpcui -
Best forKeyboard-driven HTTP workflows
A focused terminal API client for keyboard-driven HTTP workflows.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Posting -
Best forMinimal command-line HTTP transfers
A focused, free HTTP client for terminal-based request work.
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit xh -
Best forOpenAPI-aware shell automation
A free, open-source API client for OpenAPI-aware shell automation.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Restish -
Best forScriptable command-line transfers
A mature, scriptable transfer tool for developers who prefer command-line workflows.
- WebSocket support
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit curl -
Best forInteractive HTTPie-compatible terminal users
A focused, open-source HTTPie-compatible client for terminal-based API work.
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit HTTP Prompt -
Best forWindows .http file workflows
A focused Windows REST client for developers who work in .http and .rest files.
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Karve -
Best forPaid collaborative desktop users
A capable HTTP and GraphQL client for paid desktop collaboration.
- Team workspaces
- Automated test runs
- GraphQL support
5.5/10★★★☆☆Visit NativeRest -
Best forDomain intelligence API consumers
A focused domain-intelligence API for security, fraud, hosting, and domain workflows.
- API documentation
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit WhoisJSON -
Best forPython users querying SPARQL endpoints
A focused Python library and CLI for sending SPARQL queries and handling results.
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit RDFLib -
Best forR users querying NASA POWER datasets
A focused, open-source R client for NASA POWER weather and solar datasets.
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit rOpenSci
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | GraphQL support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Postman | Yes | $9/mo | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | SoapUI | Yes | Free | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | Apidog | Yes | $9/user/mo | Yes | 8.8 |
| 4 | Insomnia | Yes | $12/user/mo | Yes | 8.7 |
| 5 | Bruno | Yes | $6/user/mo | Yes | 8.6 |
| 6 | ReadyAPI | No | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 7 | HTTPie | Yes | Free | Yes | 8.4 |
| 8 | Hurl | Yes | Free | Yes | 8.3 |
| 9 | Hoppscotch | Yes | $6/user/mo | Yes | 7.9 |
| 10 | Requestly | No | $10/user/mo | Yes | 7.9 |
| 11 | OpenReq | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.9 |
| 12 | Kreya | Yes | $5/user/mo | Yes | 7.9 |
| 13 | Testfully | Yes | $14/user/mo | Yes | 7.8 |
| 14 | httpYac | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.7 |
| 15 | Altair GraphQL Client | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 16 | Firecamp | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | |
| 17 | Thunder Client | Yes | $3/user/mo | 7.4 | |
| 18 | grpcurl | Yes | Free | No | 7.3 |
| 19 | Insomnium | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.2 |
| 20 | Vegha | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.1 |
| 21 | RESTK | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.0 |
| 22 | Yaak | Yes | $79/user/yr | Yes | 6.9 |
| 23 | Chapar | Yes | Free | Yes | 6.8 |
| 24 | API Dash | Free | Yes | 6.7 | |
| 25 | Refit | Yes | Free | 6.6 | |
| 26 | Restfox | Free | 6.5 | ||
| 27 | GraphiQL | Yes | Free | Yes | 6.4 |
| 28 | grpcui | Free | 6.3 | ||
| 29 | Posting | Free | 6.2 | ||
| 30 | xh | Yes | Free | 6.1 | |
| 31 | Restish | Yes | Free | 6.0 | |
| 32 | curl | Yes | Free | 5.9 | |
| 33 | HTTP Prompt | Free | 5.8 | ||
| 34 | Karve | No | $39.99 one-time | No | 5.7 |
| 35 | NativeRest | No | $199 one-time | Yes | 5.5 |
| 36 | WhoisJSON API | Yes | $10/mo | 5.4 | |
| 37 | SPARQLWrapper | Yes | Free | No | 5.3 |
| 38 | nasapower | Yes | Free | No | 5.2 |
Head-to-head All 13 comparisons →
- Postman vs HTTPie
- Postman vs Hurl
- SoapUI vs HTTPie
- SoapUI vs Hurl
- Apidog vs HTTPie
- Apidog vs Hurl
- Insomnia vs HTTPie
- Insomnia vs Hurl
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How we rank API clients
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update