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Head-to-head · API Design Tools

Postman vs Smithy

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Postman #2 in API Design Tools 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Postman
Smithy #8 in API Design Tools 8.1/10 Open source ✓ 2 of 6 features Visit Smithy

Postman leads on 0 checks, Smithy on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePostman · 9.2/10
  • Free planonly Postman
  • Most featuresSmithy · 2 of 6

Postman scores higher on our rubric for api design tools: 9.2 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

Postman is the better fit for teams wanting broad API workflows and collaboration. Smithy is the better fit for teams using model-first, protocol-agnostic API design.

  • Postman fits best

    Teams wanting broad API workflows and collaboration

  • Smithy fits best

    Teams using model-first, protocol-agnostic API design

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.

Side by side

Feature Postman 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Smithy 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.1
Ranking #2 in API Design Tools #8 in API Design Tools
Best for Teams wanting broad API workflows and collaboration Teams using model-first, protocol-agnostic API design
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $9/mo Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Browser extension Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome extension Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Tickets, Community, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 8 integrations 3 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Postman 1/6 · Smithy 2/6
OpenAPI support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
AsyncAPI support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Mock server ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Contract validation Not checked yet Not checked yet
Git synchronization Not checked yet Not checked yet
Team collaboration Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Included team seats Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports HTTP, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, and MQTT requests
  • Combines specifications, mocks, testing, documentation, and CI/CD
  • Runs across web, desktop, Chrome extension, and API platforms
  • Defines services and APIs independently of wire protocol
  • Generates client, server, and reference documentation outputs
  • Converts models to OpenAPI and supports AWS integrations
Cons
  • Annual billing saves up to 25% compared to monthly
  • Advanced governance and audit reporting require Enterprise
  • It is not open-source software
  • Local CLI rather than a hosted API design SaaS product
  • Requires model-driven workflows and build plugins
  • Paid plans and hosted collaboration details are not provided
Our verdict

Postman is an API platform for developers and teams building, testing, documenting, and collaborating on APIs. Its API Client sends and inspects HTTP, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, and MQTT requests, while collections organize requests,…

Read the review →

Smithy is an open-source interface definition language and build tool for designing services and APIs. It is aimed at teams that want to define a service model once and use that model across validation, code generation, documentation, and…

Read the review →
  1. PostmanAPI Design Tools 9.2Free plan
  2. SmithyAPI Design Tools 8.1Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Postman — where it wins

    • Supports HTTP, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, and MQTT requests
    • Combines specifications, mocks, testing, documentation, and CI/CD
    • Runs across web, desktop, Chrome extension, and API platforms

    Where it doesn't

    • Annual billing saves up to 25% compared to monthly
    • Advanced governance and audit reporting require Enterprise
    • It is not open-source software

  • Smithy — where it wins

    • Defines services and APIs independently of wire protocol
    • Generates client, server, and reference documentation outputs
    • Converts models to OpenAPI and supports AWS integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Local CLI rather than a hosted API design SaaS product
    • Requires model-driven workflows and build plugins
    • Paid plans and hosted collaboration details are not provided

More comparisons

All API design tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update