Bruno

Fast, git-friendly open-source API client and Postman alternative.

Best for: Software developers, QA engineers, and teams wanting offline, Git-versioned API testing

Free plan

4.9/5Editorial score 94/100usebruno.com

Entry plan

Free Forever (Open Source)

Get started free

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Editorial score94/100

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The editorial note

What to know about Bruno

Bruno is an open-source desktop API client that redefines API exploration and testing. Unlike cloud-locked alternatives, Bruno stores collections directly in your filesystem as plain text files using Bru markup language. This allows teams to version control, review, and collaborate on API collections using standard Git workflows.

Is it right for you?

Who Bruno suits

Choose it if

Software developers, QA engineers, and teams wanting offline, Git-versioned API testing

Look elsewhere if

Users who rely heavily on cloud-hosted mock servers and proprietary shared cloud workspaces

What you get

Key features

Filesystem-based collection storage (Bru markup)
Native Git collaboration with pull requests and branches
Environment variables and secrets management
Automated API testing and assertion scripts
Support for REST, GraphQL, and OAuth 2.0
Bruno CLI runner for CI/CD integration

Works with

Integrations5

GitGitHub GitLab VS Codenpm

What it costs

Pricing

Bruno pricing plans
Plan	Price	What it includes
Community Edition	Free Forever (Open Source)Billed one-time	100% free, unlimited API collections, offline-first storage, Git versioning
Golden Edition	$19 one-time (per user)Billed one-time	Perpetual license, Bruno CLI test runner in CI/CD, Inbuilt Developer Tools, visual git dashboard

Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.

The trade-off

Pros and cons

Pros

Offline first with zero mandatory cloud sync or account registration
Stores API collections directly in git repositories as plain text files
Fast, lightweight desktop application with zero bloat

Cons

CLI test runner features are part of the Golden Edition license
Smaller extension ecosystem than older tools like Postman

Quick read

At a glance

Category: Development & Coding
Pricing model: Freemium
Entry plan: Free Forever (Open Source)
Free plan: Available
Free trial: Not listed
Website: usebruno.com

The verdict

Our take on Bruno

Bruno is the modern, developer-centric Postman alternative that respects privacy and integrates seamlessly into Git workflows.

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