Postman

The collaborative API platform — design, test, document, and monitor APIs in one workspace.

What is Postman?

Postman is the most widely used API platform, grown from a simple request client into a full lifecycle workspace used by tens of millions of developers. You build and send HTTP, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket requests, organize them into collections, and layer on scripted tests, mock servers, monitors, and auto-generated documentation. Team workspaces keep collections, environments, and schemas in sync, which is why Postman became the default way engineering teams share API knowledge. Recent releases add AI assistance (Postbot) for writing tests and debugging responses, plus governance features for large organizations. The free plan is generous enough for individuals and small teams; paid tiers add collaboration depth, role controls, and higher limits on mocks and monitors.

Key Features

Request client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, and SSE

Collections with environments, variables, and scripted tests

Mock servers, monitors, and auto-generated API documentation

Team workspaces with commenting, forking, and version control

Postbot AI for generating tests and explaining responses

Use Cases

Exploring and debugging third-party or internal APIs
Sharing a living collection of API requests across a team
Running automated API test suites in CI with Newman/CLI
Publishing public API documentation for customers

How to Use Postman

1Download the desktop app or use Postman on the web
2Create a request, send it, and inspect the response
3Save requests into a collection with environments and variables
4Add tests, then share the workspace or run it in CI

Best For

Teams that need one shared source of truth for APIsQA engineers automating API regression testsAPI-first companies publishing public collections

FAQ

Is Postman free?

Yes. Postman's free plan covers core request building, collections, and limited collaboration for up to 3 users. Paid plans start around $14 per user/month for larger teams and higher mock/monitor limits.

Can Postman run automated tests in CI?

Yes. Collections with scripted tests can run headlessly via the Postman CLI or Newman, so the same tests developers write interactively also gate your CI pipeline.

How does Postman compare to Insomnia?

Postman is broader — mocks, monitors, docs, and a large collaboration layer — while Insomnia is a leaner, open-source client focused on fast request building and Git-friendly workflows.

Looking for Postman alternatives?

Compare 2 hand-picked alternatives by pricing, free plans, and open-source availability.

View Alternatives

Compare Postman side by side

In-depth, editor-written comparisons with a clear verdict.

Postman vs Insomnia

Related Tools

More active tools in Developer Tools.

View Developer Tools

AutoLocalise

Skip translation files & complex setups. AI auto-translates with context and learns from manual updates. Real-time updates, support 100+ languages for React, Python, Next.js & React Native.

FreemiumCode Editor

Aback Tools

Free online tools for file conversion and productivity enhancement.

FreeTask ManagementImage Editing

Travis CI

Simple, flexible, trustworthy CI/CD — automate testing and deployment straight from your repository.

PaidCI/CDDevOps+1

Insomnia

An open-source API client by Kong — fast request building with Git sync and design-first workflows.

FreemiumAPITesting+1

Jenkins

Build great things at any scale — the leading open-source automation server for CI/CD.

FreeOpen SourceCI/CD+1

Raycast

The extendable launcher that replaced Spotlight — commands, snippets, windows, and AI in one keystroke.

FreemiumTask ManagementAI