Postman

Postman is a software platform for building and using APIs. It supports API design, request execution, automated testing, documentation, monitoring, collaboration, and governance.

The platform includes a web application, native desktop clients, a command-line interface, and integrations for developer workflows. Postman was incorporated in 2014 after starting as a side project by Abhinav Asthana, Ankit Sobti, and Abhijit Kane.

Postman is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains offices in Bangalore and Tokyo. Its API platform supports individual developers, quality teams, platform engineers, and enterprise API programs.

Postman organizes requests, scripts, environments, tests, and documentation into collections. Teams can share these assets through workspaces, API repositories, public documentation, and the Postman API Network.

Testing features include collection runs, scripted assertions, regression testing, integration testing, performance testing, mock servers, and monitoring. The Postman CLI can run collections and perform schema, security, and governance checks in local or CI environments.

Postman supports HTTP and REST workflows alongside GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, MQTT, SOAP, webhooks, MCP requests, and AI model requests. Its integrations include Git, Jira, Slack, PagerDuty, Splunk, ReadMe, VS Code, and other development, monitoring, security, and collaboration tools.

Postman also provides an API for programmatic access to collections, environments, monitors, mock servers, workspaces, and related account resources. API requests use Postman API keys and are subject to rate and usage limits.

Postman offers a Free plan at $0 per month. The Free plan includes the API client, core tools, specifications, mock servers, native Git, collection runs, performance testing runs, and limited Postman AI usage.

The Solo plan costs $9 per month when billed annually. The Team plan costs $19 per user per month when billed annually. The Enterprise plan costs $49 per user per month when billed annually and adds organization-wide governance, security, administration, and API catalog capabilities.

Some services use consumption-based pricing. Examples include AI credits, API monitoring, Flows, and cloud performance testing. Postman provides an Enterprise feature trial for teams evaluating advanced collaboration, security, and governance capabilities.

Pros: Postman provides a broad API workflow in one product. Its collection model supports reusable requests, environments, scripts, tests, documentation, and automation. It runs across web, desktop, and command-line environments. The platform also offers extensive integrations and a large public API network.

Cons: Advanced collaboration, governance, security, and organizational controls require higher-tier plans. Usage-based services can add costs beyond the subscription price. The desktop application may feel resource-intensive when users manage large collections, according to recurring themes in public G2 reviews.

Insomnia is a comparable API client focused on request design, testing, and local developer workflows. Hoppscotch provides a browser-based API development environment. SoapUI specializes in functional and automated testing for SOAP and REST services.

SwaggerHub supports API design, documentation, governance, and lifecycle management around OpenAPI. Stoplight provides API design, documentation, mocking, and governance features for teams using contract-first workflows.

Is Postman free? Yes. Postman has a Free plan for individual API development and testing. It includes core API client capabilities and limited AI usage.

What platforms does Postman support? Postman supports web browsers and native desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It also provides a CLI and a Visual Studio Code extension.

Does Postman provide an API? Yes. The Postman API provides programmatic access to collections, environments, monitors, mock servers, workspaces, and other account resources. Authentication requires a Postman API key.

Can Postman run in CI/CD pipelines? Yes. The Postman CLI can run collections and perform schema, security, and governance checks from local environments or CI workflows.

Does Postman offer a free trial? The Free plan provides ongoing access to core functionality. Postman also states that teams can trial Enterprise features before purchasing an Enterprise plan.

What integrations does Postman support? Postman lists integrations across Git, CI/CD, monitoring, incident response, documentation, security, collaboration, gateways, and developer tools. Examples include Jira, Slack, PagerDuty, Splunk, ReadMe, and VS Code.