For years, Postman has been the go-to tool for testing and managing APIs. But lately, Bruno — a lightweight, Git-friendly, offline-first API client — has been winning the hearts of developers.
In this article, we’ll look at:
- What Bruno is and why it’s different
- Key features that make Bruno stand out
- A side-by-side comparison of Bruno vs Postman
- Where Bruno is better — and where Postman still shines
Quick Feature Comparison
| Feature | Bruno 🟢 | Postman 🟠 |
|---|---|---|
| Data Storage | Local .bru files (Git-friendly, plain text) | Cloud-first (exports possible but less transparent) |
| Offline Support | ✅ Works fully offline | ⚠️ Limited, many features need cloud |
| Version Control | ✅ Git-native workflow | ❌ Export/import required |
| Performance | ✅ Lightweight, fast | ⚠️ Can feel heavy |
| Pricing | Open source (free core, paid pro tiers) | Freemium with limits; paid tiers for advanced features |
Why Bruno is Gaining Traction
- Local-first design — your collections are files you can commit to Git.
- No login needed — works fully offline, with privacy in mind.
- CLI and IDE support — great for automation and CI/CD.
- Lightweight and fast — fewer distractions, quicker workflows.
Where Postman Still Wins
- Mock servers and API monitoring
- Team dashboards and collaboration
- Enterprise-level governance and integrations
👉 Want the full deep-dive comparison with detailed features, pros/cons, and plugin links?
I’ve written a complete guide here:
👉 Read the full article on my blog
💡 Pro tip: if you’re a solo dev, freelancer, or small team, Bruno may cover 90% of your API testing needs without the overhead of Postman. If you’re in an enterprise setting, Postman’s collaboration features may still be essential.
Top comments (0)