Developer Tools
Postman
The API platform.
What it is
Postman is the most popular API platform globally, managing every stage of development. Once just a test tool, it now covers API design, documentation, and 'mock' server creation. It ensures flawless communication between frontend and backend. You can group requests into collections, share them with team members, and run automated tests on the cloud.
Key features
API Collections
Organize your requests by project and share them collaboratively.
Environments
Switch between Local, Staging, and Production setups with one single click.
Automated Testing
Integrate automated API tests into your CI/CD pipelines via Newman.
API Network
Discover and test thousands of public APIs from across the world in seconds.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Universal Standard: The most widely accepted and used API tool in the industry.
- Scripting Power: Write automated tests for every API request using JavaScript.
- Documentation: Transform your collections into stylish API docs with one click.
- Mock Servers: Allow frontends to keep working even before the backend is ready.
Where it falls short
- Resource Usage: The desktop app can consume quite a bit of RAM during heavy work.
- UI Bloat: For those just wanting to send a simple request, the UI can be overwhelming.
- Cloud Reliance: Some collab features require data to be held on Postman's servers.
Who it is for
Backend Developers, QA Engineers, and Frontend Coders.
Pick it or skip it
Pick Postman if
- One developer working alone — the free plan is a full API client with collections, environments and mock servers
- Teams that want a shared API workspace and are ready to pay per user
- Work where 1,000 monitoring requests a month is enough
Skip it if
- You need team collaboration — the free plan is a single user; Team is $19/user/mo billed annually ($25 monthly)
- You rely on webhooks, private NPM packages or data-driven testing; those start at Solo, $9/mo annual ($12 monthly)
- You cannot keep data on Postman's servers, which some collaboration features require
Our verdict
An essential tool that every developer working with APIs must have on their machine.
Closest alternatives we track
Same category, ordered by verified starting price.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Postman free plan include?
- Free covers the core API client, specs and mock servers, native Git support, the Collection Runner with performance testing, manual Flows and 50 AI credits per month. Solo is $9 per month billed annually with 400 AI credits, data-driven testing exports, custom-branded docs and custom domains. Team is $19 per user per month annually and adds collaboration, unlimited viewers, basic role-based access and SDK generation. Enterprise is $49 per user per month annually with the API Catalog, Private API Network, advanced RBAC and audit logs.
- Does Postman have a free plan?
- Yes. Postman offers a free tier with limits; paid plans unlock higher usage or team features.
- Who is Postman best for?
- Backend Developers, QA Engineers, and Frontend Coders.
- What are the closest alternatives to Postman?
- In the same category we track Insomnia, SmartBear Software and Swagger. Each has its own review page with verified pricing, and the comparison links above show them side by side.
- What are the main drawbacks of Postman?
- The trade-offs we noted: Resource Usage: The desktop app can consume quite a bit of RAM during heavy work.; UI Bloat: For those just wanting to send a simple request, the UI can be overwhelming.; Cloud Reliance: Some collab features require data to be held on Postman's servers..
- When should you not use Postman?
- Skip Postman if: You need team collaboration — the free plan is a single user; Team is $19/user/mo billed annually ($25 monthly); You rely on webhooks, private NPM packages or data-driven testing; those start at Solo, $9/mo annual ($12 monthly); You cannot keep data on Postman's servers, which some collaboration features require.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.No
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.No
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.Yes
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-09-07
- Postman — Pricing ↗
Checked 2026-09-07 · Supports: Free $0 with 1 user, 50 AI credits/mo, 1,000 monitoring requests/mo, 5 integrations, 10,000 Postman API calls/mo, Solo $9/mo annual or $12 monthly, Team $19/user/mo annual or $25 monthly, Enterprise $49/user/mo annual or $65 monthly, free plan excludes webhooks, private NPM packages and team collaboration
Limit: Vendor pricing pages were reviewed; this record is not a ToolCompare benchmark.
Compare Postman with alternatives
More Developer Tools tools: see the full Developer Tools category