Bruno
Open-source API client that stores collections in Git
Last updated: February 2025
Free open-source edition, Golden Edition $19 one-time, Ultimate $49 one-time
Quick Verdict
The best API client for developers who value Git-native workflows and offline-first design. The one-time purchase pricing makes it an easy choice over subscription-based alternatives.
What is Bruno?
Bruno is an open-source, offline-first API client built as a lightweight alternative to Postman. It stores API collections as plain text files using Bru markup language, making them Git-friendly and version-controllable alongside your code. Supports REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket testing with a clean desktop app and CLI for CI/CD automation.
Our Impression
"Bruno represents what many developers wish Postman still was — fast, focused, and local-first. The killer feature is storing collections as plain text files in your repo, meaning API tests travel with your code through Git. The one-time pricing model is refreshingly developer-friendly in a world of subscriptions."
— Giga Engineer Editorial Team
Key Features
Pros
- Collections stored as plain text files in Git
- Offline-first with no mandatory cloud accounts
- One-time purchase instead of subscription
- Fast and lightweight compared to Postman
- Active open-source community
Cons
- Smaller plugin ecosystem than Postman
- Team collaboration features less mature
- Desktop-only (no web version)
Who Should Use Bruno?
- Developers who want API collections version-controlled in Git
- Teams frustrated with Postman's cloud-dependency and bloat
- Backend developers needing a fast, lightweight API testing tool
- CI/CD pipelines requiring automated API test execution
Bruno Pricing
Free open-source edition, Golden Edition $19 one-time, Ultimate $49 one-time
Visit Bruno's website for the most up-to-date pricing information.
Bruno Alternatives
Looking for alternatives to Bruno? Consider these options: