What is the Best Alternative to Postman for API Debugging in September 2024?

In my view, a tool qualifies as a genuinely lightweight API debugging and management solution only if it satisfies these two key criteria:

1. No Account Required, No Cloud Storage for My Data
I don’t want to be forced to leave my personal information or store my API data in a third-party cloud database unless I genuinely need collaborative development features. Privacy and control over my data are paramount.

2. Free Version Includes Sufficient Basic Features
I’m not opposed to paying for software, but I can’t stand so-called "free" versions that lack basic functionality. For me, a truly free version should provide enough features to be genuinely useful without hidden limitations.

Postman was once the go-to tool for API debugging and management, celebrated for its robustness and ease of use. However, it has shifted away from supporting offline, local usage, which has left many developers searching for alternatives.

Have They Really Replaced Postman?

While everyone talks about Postman alternatives, to this day, I haven't seen any that truly replace Postman.

• Thunder Client, which gained popularity as a VS Code plugin, lost favor after it suddenly became paid (previously created collections became unusable without payment).
• Insomnia initially offered offline usage without account login, but after being acquired by Kong, login became a requirement, which led to widespread discontent.
• Bruno started as a fully offline tool but later introduced a paid model.

Due to factors like pricing, mandatory logins, or the preference for lightweight plugins over downloading a full client, these tools have led some developers to partially adopt them while others have abandoned them entirely. However, none have fully matched Postman’s level.

Moreover, these tools almost universally lack compatibility with Postman's scripting syntax, meaning projects written in Postman cannot be seamlessly migrated to new tools.

What's the Best Postman Alternative?

In my opinion, EchoAPI stands out as the best alternative available. It offers rich product matrix that integrates well with my existing workflow. Besides the main product, EchoAPI also supports extensions for VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, and Chrome. No matter which code editor you use, there's a plugin available—and these plugins are all free. Unlike many competitors that impose charges for basic features, EchoAPI offers robust free plugins while only charging for its main product.

Moreover, the plugins don't require you to log in unless you want to collaborate with others and sync your data to the cloud. If you’re working solo, there’s no need to sign in.

Most importantly, EchoAPI is 100% compatible with Postman's scripting syntax, meaning I don’t need to make any changes to my existing projects.

Why EchoAPI Is the Ultimate Postman Replacement

• Product Ecosystem: Whether you use the EchoAPI Client, VS Code extension, IntelliJ IDEA extension, Chrome extension, or EchoAPI CLI, EchoAPI integrates seamlessly with your workflow, ensuring your API data syncs effortlessly across all tools.
• Free Plugins: All plugins are free—VS Code (free), IntelliJ IDEA (free), Chrome (free), EchoAPI CLI (free).
• No Login Required: Whether you’re using a plugin or the main product, there’s no obligation to log in unless you need to sync data or collaborate.
• Cross-Platform Collaboration: No matter if your team members use IntelliJ IDEA, VS Code, a browser, or the EchoAPI client, they can collaborate smoothly and without any hitches.

All these factors make EchoAPI the ultimate Postman alternative—it's highly adaptable to various workflows, excels in data collaboration, and remains truly lightweight.