
Hoppscotch
Developer ToolsFreemiumOpen-source API development ecosystem — fast, free Postman alternative
82/100
5 min readHoppscotch is an open-source API development platform with 78K+ GitHub stars. A fast, free alternative to Postman for REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and more.
Hoppscotch is an open-source API development ecosystem that gives developers a fast, lightweight alternative to Postman for building and testing APIs. We rate it 82/100 — an excellent free-first choice for individual developers and small teams who value speed and simplicity over enterprise bells and whistles.
Hoppscotch was created by Liyas Thomas in August 2019, originally under the cheeky name "Postwoman." What began as a personal project — Thomas needed a lightweight API request builder that could run smoothly on older hardware — has since grown into a full-featured API development platform with over 78,000 GitHub stars, making it one of the most popular open-source developer tools on the platform. The project raised a $3M seed round in December 2021 and has been adopted by over 500,000 developers worldwide.
Where Postman has become increasingly bloated with features many developers never touch, Hoppscotch takes the opposite approach: a clean, browser-first interface that loads instantly and focuses on what matters — sending requests and inspecting responses. It supports REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, Server-Sent Events, Socket.IO, and MQTT protocols, covering virtually every API testing scenario.
On G2, Hoppscotch holds an impressive 4.9 out of 5 rating across 84 reviews — one of the highest in the API testing tools category. Reviewers consistently praise the intuitive interface and near-instant load times compared to Postman's Electron-based desktop app.
On Reddit's r/webdev and r/programming, sentiment is broadly positive. Developers cite the lightweight feel and open-source nature as primary reasons for switching. The most common complaint? Limited integrations compared to Postman's ecosystem. On Hacker News, technical users appreciate the project but some have raised concerns about long-term direction after venture funding.
Product Hunt users gave it a 4.7/5 rating, reaching #2 Product of the Day. Early adopters highlighted the speed advantage but noted that SAML SSO is gated behind the Enterprise plan.
Hoppscotch uses a generous freemium model where the core product is completely free with no artificial limits on requests, collections, or workspaces.
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Unlimited requests, collections, workspaces, runners. Web, Desktop, CLI. Community support. |
| Organization | $6/user/mo (annual) | Admin dashboard, team management, dedicated support. |
| Enterprise | Custom | SAML SSO, on-premise, audit logs, custom integrations. |
Best for: Solo developers, freelancers, and small-to-medium teams who want a fast, free API testing tool without Postman's bloat. Open-source enthusiasts who prefer community-driven tools. Teams needing self-hosting capabilities.
Not ideal for: Large enterprises needing deep CI/CD integrations, extensive plugin ecosystems, or advanced governance features. Teams heavily invested in Postman's Flows automation.
Pros:
Cons:
Postman: The industry standard with the largest ecosystem and best documentation — but increasingly paywalled and heavier. Best for enterprises needing the full API lifecycle platform.
Insomnia (Kong): More mature open-source alternative with better plugin support and Git sync, but has faced backlash over mandatory cloud accounts in recent versions.
Bruno: A newer open-source API client storing collections as plain files on your filesystem. Great for privacy and Git workflows, but lacks real-time collaboration.
At 82/100, Hoppscotch earns a strong recommendation for developers frustrated with Postman's bloat and paywalls. It's fast, free, open-source, and covers the core API testing workflow excellently. For solo developers and small teams, it's arguably the best free API development tool available today. Larger teams should evaluate whether the $6/user/month Organization plan covers their needs, or whether Postman's deeper enterprise tooling is still required.
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