REST API Testing in 2026: Bruno, Hoppscotch, and Moving on from Postman
Local-first API collections, quick testing tools, and why git-committing your Postman collections matters
REST API Testing in 2026: Bruno, Hoppscotch, and Moving on from Postman
Postman has been the default API testing tool for years. Then they required cloud sync for basic features, started requiring logins for things that worked offline, and raised prices. The open source alternatives are now better for most use cases.
Three tools worth knowing in 2026: Bruno for local-first API collections, Hoppscotch for quick web-based testing, and HTTPie for terminal-native workflows.
Bruno: The Postman Replacement
Bruno stores API collections as plain files on your filesystem — no cloud account, no sync required, just a directory with .bru files you can commit to git alongside your code. This is the killer feature: your API collection lives in the repo, gets reviewed in PRs, and travels with the codebase.
Bruno has a clean UI, supports environments and variables, can run collections from the CLI (bruno run), and handles OAuth flows. For teams that already use git, storing API collections in version control is just the correct way to do it.
Install: download from usebruno.com, no account required
Collections stored as .bru files — commit them to git
CLI: `bru run folder/` for CI integration
Environments: local/staging/prod variables per collection
Hoppscotch: When You Just Need to Test Quickly
Hoppscotch is browser-based, meaning zero install — just open hoppscotch.io and start making requests. It's the fastest option when you need to test an API endpoint quickly and don't want to switch to a desktop app. Supports REST, GraphQL, WebSockets, and SSE.
You can self-host Hoppscotch if you need team sharing without the cloud. The self-hosted version gives you full collections sync on your own infrastructure.
HTTPie: Terminal-First API Testing
If you live in the terminal, HTTPie makes API calls readable. Compare: `curl -s -X POST -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"key":"value"}' https://api.example.com` vs `http POST https://api.example.com key=value`. HTTPie has sensible defaults and colorized JSON output.
HTTPie also has a web interface (httpie.io/app) for one-off requests. The CLI is the main draw — it's the readable curl.
Which to Use
For teams and persistent collections: Bruno (local files, git-friendly). For quick ad-hoc testing: Hoppscotch. For CLI workflows and scripts: HTTPie or curl. Postman is still fine if your team is already on it — but for new projects, Bruno is the modern choice.
Next issue: container-based development environments with Dev Containers — keeping your local machine clean while having full project environments. Subscribe: https://devtoolsguide.substack.com