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Head-to-head · API Clients

HTTPie vs Hurl

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score HTTPie #7 in API Clients 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 6 features Visit HTTPie
Hurl #8 in API Clients 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Hurl

HTTPie leads on 0 checks, Hurl on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreHTTPie · 8.4/10
  • Free planboth

HTTPie scores higher on our rubric for api clients: 8.4 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #8.

HTTPie is the better fit for HTTP and GraphQL request composition. Hurl is the better fit for text-based CI API testing.

  • HTTPie fits best

    HTTP and GraphQL request composition

  • Hurl fits best

    Text-based CI API testing

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Side by side

Feature HTTPie 8.4/10 Visit ↗ Hurl 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.4 8.3
Ranking #7 in API Clients #8 in API Clients
Best for HTTP and GraphQL request composition Text-based CI API testing
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Docs, Community
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features HTTPie 1/6 · Hurl 1/6
GraphQL support ✓ ✓
gRPC support Not checked yet Not checked yet
WebSocket support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Automated test runs Not checked yet Not checked yet
API documentation Not checked yet Not checked yet
Team workspaces Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Available platforms Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • GraphQL editing includes schema fetching, autocomplete, and validation.
  • Supports environments, variables, spaces, collections, and tabs.
  • Exports requests as cURL, HTTPie CLI commands, and code snippets.
  • Chains requests and captures response values for later steps
  • Validates REST, SOAP, GraphQL, JSON, XML, and HTML responses
  • Creates text, JUnit, TAP, and HTML reports for CI/CD
Cons
  • Web and Desktop applications are described as a public beta.
  • Advanced workflow capabilities may not suit every API team.
  • AI assistance adds convenience but is not essential to core testing.
  • Command-line workflow is narrower than full graphical API clients
  • Best suited to teams comfortable maintaining plain-text test files
  • Focused on HTTP testing rather than broader API client workflows
Our verdict

HTTPie is an API testing and HTTP client platform for developers working with REST, GraphQL, and HTTP APIs. Its terminal client supports composing, sending, and inspecting requests, while the Web and Desktop applications provide graphical…

Read the review →

Hurl is an open-source command-line tool for developers and DevOps teams who define HTTP requests and tests in plain-text Hurl files. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and is distributed as a single Rust binary powered by libcurl. The…

Read the review →
  1. HTTPieAPI Clients 8.4Free plan
  2. HurlAPI Clients 8.3Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • HTTPie — where it wins

    • GraphQL editing includes schema fetching, autocomplete, and validation.
    • Supports environments, variables, spaces, collections, and tabs.
    • Exports requests as cURL, HTTPie CLI commands, and code snippets.

    Where it doesn't

    • Web and Desktop applications are described as a public beta.
    • Advanced workflow capabilities may not suit every API team.
    • AI assistance adds convenience but is not essential to core testing.

  • Hurl — where it wins

    • Chains requests and captures response values for later steps
    • Validates REST, SOAP, GraphQL, JSON, XML, and HTML responses
    • Creates text, JUnit, TAP, and HTML reports for CI/CD

    Where it doesn't

    • Command-line workflow is narrower than full graphical API clients
    • Best suited to teams comfortable maintaining plain-text test files
    • Focused on HTTP testing rather than broader API client workflows

More comparisons

All API clients comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update