Hoppscotch: The Modern, Lightweight Alternative to Postman and Bruno

Source: Dev.to

Introduction

In the world of software development, API client tools are as essential as a good code editor. For years, Postman has been the default choice for many developers. More recently, tools like Bruno have emerged, catering to developers who prefer a git‑native, offline‑first approach. Hoppscotch is an open‑source API development suite that combines a fast, web‑native experience with the flexibility of open source.

Hoppscotch is a web‑based API client that you can start using instantly from its website—no installation required. Despite its simplicity, it supports REST, GraphQL, and real‑time protocols such as WebSocket, Socket.IO, and MQTT. Being open source, it offers transparency and community involvement, and it can be self‑hosted for teams concerned with data privacy.

Hoppscotch vs. Postman

Performance and Accessibility

• Web‑first: Hoppscotch runs in a browser, launching instantly on any device.
• PWA option: For a desktop‑like experience, it can be installed as a Progressive Web App.

True Open Source and Cost‑Effectiveness

• Hoppscotch is free and open source. A paid cloud service is optional for teams.
• Postman’s free tier has become increasingly restrictive, pushing users toward paid plans for many basic features.

Collaboration Model

• Hoppscotch lets you create team workspaces and share collections via simple links, without forcing every user into a complex, account‑based ecosystem.
• Postman’s collaboration is powerful but tightly integrated with its paid cloud services.

User Experience

• Hoppscotch offers a clean, modern, and intuitive UI that feels less cluttered than Postman’s feature‑packed interface.

Hoppscotch vs. Bruno

Philosophy

• Hoppscotch: Web‑first, designed for speed and seamless online access.
• Bruno: Local‑first, storing collection data directly on the filesystem for Git version control.

Collaboration

• Bruno: Collaboration occurs via pull requests, ideal for teams embedded in a GitOps workflow.
• Hoppscotch: Provides immediate, real‑time collaboration through shared workspaces and links, which is faster for quick debugging or pairing sessions.

Accessibility

• With Hoppscotch, you can send a teammate a URL and they can instantly view and interact with the request.
• With Bruno, teammates need the app installed and must pull the latest changes from the repository.

Core Features of Hoppscotch

• Multi‑Protocol Support – First‑class support for REST, GraphQL (with a schema explorer), WebSocket, Socket.IO, and MQTT.
• Pre‑Request Scripts & Tests – Write JavaScript to run before a request is sent or to validate the response, similar to Postman.
• Environments & Variables – Manage different environments (development, staging, production) with ease.
• PWA for Offline Use – Install as a Progressive Web App for a desktop‑like experience and offline capability.
• Self‑Hosting – Deploy your own instance with a few commands for ultimate data privacy and control.

Choosing the Right API Client

Conclusion

Hoppscotch carves out a unique niche as a fast, accessible, and open‑source API client with a clean user experience. If you value speed, real‑time collaboration, and transparency, give Hoppscotch a spin—it may become your new default API client.