Postman vs Hoppscotch

Postman is the API testing tool everyone knows. Hoppscotch is the free, open-source alternative that runs entirely in your browser. Here is how they compare for real API development workflows.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

Postman

The standard API development and testing platform

$14/user/moper user/month (Basic plan, billed annually)

Strengths

+Most complete API testing feature set on the market
+Collection runner, monitors, and mock servers built in
+Team collaboration with shared workspaces and version history

Weaknesses

-Desktop app has become bloated and slow over the years
-Free tier limits collections and collaboration features
-Pushing users toward cloud sync, which raises privacy concerns

Best for

Teams that need full API lifecycle management with testing, documentation, mocking, and CI/CD integration.

Hoppscotch

Open source API development ecosystem, fast and lightweight

Freefree and open source (paid Hoppscotch Cloud team plans available)

Strengths

+Completely free and open source with no feature gating
+Runs in the browser instantly, no install needed
+Blazing fast and lightweight compared to Postman's desktop app

Weaknesses

-No built-in mock servers or API monitoring
-Team collaboration features are newer and less mature
-Smaller ecosystem of integrations and extensions

Best for

Developers who want a fast, free API testing tool without installing a heavy desktop app or paying per-seat fees.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Postman	Hoppscotch
Pricing	$14/user/mo (Basic plan)	Free, open source (self-hosted); paid Cloud team plans optional
REST API testing	Excellent	Excellent
GraphQL support	Yes	Yes
WebSocket testing	Yes	Yes
Mock servers	Built in	No
Collection runner	Yes	Yes
Self-hosting	No	Yes
Offline support	Desktop app (partial)	PWA with offline mode

The Verdict

Postman is still more feature-complete, especially for teams that need mocking, monitoring, and deep CI/CD integration. But Hoppscotch covers 90% of what most developers actually need for daily API testing, and it does it for free, instantly in a browser tab. If you are tired of Postman's bloat and pricing, Hoppscotch is a genuinely great alternative.

How to switch from Postman to Hoppscotch

Full Postman export guide →

1In Postman, select each collection, open the three-dot menu, and choose Export to download it as a Postman Collection v2.1 JSON file; do the same for any environments you use.
2Open Hoppscotch (web app or self-hosted instance), go to Import/Export in the collections panel, and import the Postman JSON files directly, no conversion needed for standard REST/GraphQL requests.
3Manually recreate any pre-request scripts, test scripts, or mock server configurations, since these don't always transfer cleanly and Hoppscotch's scripting API differs slightly from Postman's.
4Replace Newman-based CI/CD steps with Hoppscotch's CLI (hopp-cli) in your pipeline config, pointing it at the imported collection files.
5If you need team sync, either self-host Hoppscotch on your own infrastructure or set up a Hoppscotch Cloud team workspace, then invite your team members.
6Run both tools in parallel for a sprint or two, keep Postman read-only for reference, and once everyone confirms their workflows work in Hoppscotch, cancel the Postman team subscription.

Postman vs Hoppscotch: common questions

How do I export my data from Postman to Hoppscotch?+

In Postman, open a collection, click the three-dot menu, and choose Export to save it as a Postman Collection v2.1 JSON file. Do the same for environments via the environment quick-look menu. Hoppscotch has a native Postman collection importer under Import/Export, so you don't need a conversion tool for most requests.

What features do I lose switching from Postman to Hoppscotch?+

You lose built-in mock servers, scheduled API monitors, and the mature Newman CI ecosystem. Advanced pre-request/test scripting is also less feature-rich in Hoppscotch, since Postman's sandbox has more helper libraries baked in. Team features like detailed access controls and audit logs are also less developed.

Is the free tier enough for a small team using Hoppscotch?+

Yes, for most small teams the core app is entirely free with no request or collection limits, since it's open source. If you want hosted team sync, shared workspaces, and cloud backup without self-hosting, you'll need a paid Hoppscotch Cloud team plan, but self-hosting stays free indefinitely.

Does Hoppscotch integrate with the same tools as Postman (CI/CD, Newman, etc.)?+

Not identically. Hoppscotch has its own CLI (hopp-cli) for running collections in CI/CD pipelines, which covers similar ground to Newman but with a smaller plugin ecosystem. If your pipeline scripts are built specifically around Newman's reporters or Postman's API, expect to rewrite those steps.

How much money do I actually save switching from Postman to Hoppscotch over a year?+

For a 5-person team on Postman's Basic plan at $14/user/month, that's roughly $840/year. Self-hosting Hoppscotch costs only your server/hosting time, and even a paid Hoppscotch Cloud team plan is typically cheaper per seat, so most small teams save several hundred dollars a year.