# Bruno vs Postman Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Bruno is the top pick for most Mac users looking at API tools. It is free and open-source and installs in one Homebrew command. Postman is the stronger choice if you want api. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask bruno and brew install --cask postman. For most Mac users in 2026, Bruno is the better choice for API tools because it is free and open source, so you can inspect, self-host, and trust the code. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Postman instead if you want api. ## Head to head | Factor | Bruno | Postman | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free | | Open Source | Yes | No | | Replaces | Postman (paid plans) | — | | Best for | api, testing, rest | api, testing, development | | Install | brew install --cask bruno | brew install --cask postman | | Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools | ## Bruno Open source IDE for exploring and testing APIs Install: `brew install --cask bruno` [Bruno on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/bruno) ## Postman API platform for building and using APIs Install: `brew install --cask postman` [Postman on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/postman) ## Features - **Data Storage and Privacy.** Bruno’s local-first model gives clearer privacy and developer control. Postman’s cloud default is a dealbreaker for teams that refuse third-party storage of request metadata. - **Collaboration Workflow.** Postman’s cloud workspaces feel more polished for large, mixed teams. Bruno’s Git-centric model fits engineering teams that already review everything in PRs. - **Scripting and Automation.** Postman still leads on scripting because of ecosystem depth, documentation volume, and CLI tooling aimed at enterprise automation. - **Offline Capability.** Bruno is the clear offline pick. Postman has moved primary features toward an always-online default. - **Documentation Generation.** Postman’s documentation tools remain a strong reason to stay when you need polished, hosted API docs for consumers. - **UI and User Experience.** Bruno wins for distraction-free work. Postman wins when you need dense access to many platform features on one screen. - **Environment Management.** Bruno’s environment files map cleanly for developers already used to .env files and Git workflows. - **Extensibility.** Postman wins on official integrations. Bruno’s open-source core and npm scripting give a different kind of flexibility for people who write code around the client. ## FAQ ### Is Bruno completely free to use? Yes. Bruno’s core application is open-source and free for individuals and companies. Basic client features are not locked behind a paid tier. A Golden Edition one-time fee of $19 adds extras such as a built-in terminal and in-app documentation generation. That purchase supports the maintainers while keeping the core tool free of a recurring subscription. ### Can I use Postman without an internet connection? Postman’s Lightweight Mode lets you send basic requests without an account or internet. Most advanced pieces are off in that mode: environments and collections stay limited, and collaboration features do not apply. Full use usually means logged in and online, because Postman syncs data to cloud servers by default. That is a large change from older offline-friendly versions that treated Scratchpad as a real daily path. ### How does Bruno handle sensitive secrets? Bruno fits Git-based secret handling. You can create environment variables and mark secret files. By default Bruno uses a secrets.json file for environments that you add to .gitignore. API requests can stay shared via Git while passwords and API keys remain on each developer’s machine. ### Does Postman support GraphQL better than Bruno? Postman’s GraphQL support is more mature today. It has a dedicated GraphQL request type, schema introspection, and a built-in explorer. Bruno also runs GraphQL queries and variables, though it can feel closer to a POST request with GraphQL formatting. Heavy GraphQL users who want deep schema tooling will usually prefer Postman’s specialized UI for now. ### Why did Bruno gain so much popularity recently? Bruno’s rise in late 2023 and 2024 tracked Postman’s move to sunset Scratchpad offline mode and push cloud-synced accounts. Many developers saw that as a privacy risk and a workflow break. Bruno offered a fast local-first client with a familiar layout, so it became a common landing spot for people who wanted to leave cloud-first API testing. ### Can I import my Postman collections into Bruno? Yes. Bruno’s Import Collection flow accepts Postman JSON exports. It maps most requests and headers. Some test scripts carry over when they stay close to plain assertions. Very complex scripts that depend on Postman-specific libraries may need light cleanup before they pass in Bruno’s runtime. Most people move a full day-to-day workflow in a few minutes once the JSON export is ready. ### Does Bruno have a CLI for CI/CD like Newman? Yes. Bru CLI is Bruno’s counterpart to Newman. It runs collections from the command line so you can wire API tests into CI/CD. Because Bruno files already sit in Git, the build agent can run the CLI against local files in the workspace without a separate cloud sync step. ### Which tool is better for team collaboration? It depends on how the team works. Technical teams that already use Git often prefer Bruno, because collaboration happens through Pull Requests the same way code review does. Teams with non-developers, product managers, or partners who want a web UI and real-time shared editing usually prefer Postman’s cloud workspaces, which need less Git setup. ### Does Postman offer any security features that Bruno doesn't? Postman adds enterprise features such as Secret Scanner (alerts before you leak a key), API Governance rules for company standards, and SSO. Bruno is more private by default because it does not store your data in a vendor cloud. Postman supplies the oversight tools a CISO often wants across a large engineering org. ### Can I run Bruno on Linux and Mac? Yes. Bruno runs on macOS and Windows, and on Linux via Debian packages, RPM, or Flatpak. The Electron shell keeps the experience similar across systems. On Mac you can install with Homebrew (`brew install --cask bruno`), which helps when you script a standard developer machine setup. ### What are Postman’s current plan prices? On the March 2026 packaging: Free $0 (1 user, 50 AI credits/mo), Solo $9/mo billed annually ($12 monthly), Team $19/user/mo billed annually ($23 monthly), Enterprise $49/user/mo billed annually ($59 monthly). Always confirm on postman.com/pricing. ### What does Bruno charge in 2026? Open Source is $0. Pro is $6 per user per month billed annually. Ultimate is $11 per user per month billed annually, with a 14-day Ultimate trial. ## Sources - [Bruno pricing](https://www.usebruno.com/pricing) - [Bruno - Fast, Git-Friendly Open Source API Client](https://www.usebruno.com/) - [Bruno changelog](https://www.usebruno.com/changelog) - [Bruno GitHub - 500,000+ Users, MIT License](https://github.com/usebruno/bruno) - [Postman pricing](https://www.postman.com/pricing/) - [About Postman plans](https://learning.postman.com/docs/billing/about-plans) - [Postman - API Platform for Development](https://www.postman.com/) - [Postman Agent Mode usage](https://learning.postman.com/docs/billing/agent-mode-usage/) ## Related - [Bruno vs Insomnia](https://bundl.run/compare/bruno-vs-insomnia) - [Bruno vs Hoppscotch](https://bundl.run/compare/bruno-vs-hoppscotch) - [Hoppscotch vs Postman](https://bundl.run/compare/hoppscotch-vs-postman) - [Insomnia vs Postman](https://bundl.run/compare/insomnia-vs-postman) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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