Bruno: Open Source Alternative to Postman

Bruno is a fast and Git-friendly API client with 44k+ GitHub stars — a Postman alternative with collections stored as plain text files.

Compare Bruno with Insomnia and HTTPie before you choose your stack.

Key features

Git-native

• Collections stored as files
• Version control with your codebase
• Diff and merge friendly
• CI/CD integration

Fast & lightweight

• Native desktop app
• No Electron bloat
• Offline-first design
• Keyboard shortcuts

Bru language

• Simple markup for requests
• Environment variables
• Scripting (JavaScript)
• Test assertions

Bruno vs Postman

	Bruno	Postman
License	MIT (open source)	Proprietary
Models	Bring your own keys / local models	Vendor-locked models
Deployment	Self-hosted or cloud	SaaS only
Privacy	Data stays on your infrastructure	Processed by vendor
Cost	Free software + API usage	Subscription pricing

Choose Bruno if you want open-source code, self-hosting options, and full control over your data and deployment.

Choose Postman if you prefer a managed proprietary product with vendor support and minimal setup.

Browse more open-source alternatives to Postman, or explore other tools in Developer Tools.

At a glance

License	MIT
Stack	Go, JavaScript
Self-hosted	N/A (Desktop)
Platforms	Mac, Windows, Linux
Format	Plain text files

Installation

brew install bruno

Or download from usebrun.com.

FAQ

Is Bruno a free alternative to Postman?

Yes. Bruno is open source under MIT. You can self-host it at no software cost — you only pay for infrastructure or optional managed services.

How does Bruno compare to Postman?

Bruno gives you source code access, self-hosting, and data ownership. Postman is a proprietary product focused on managed convenience. See the comparison table above for a side-by-side breakdown.

Can I self-host Bruno?

Yes. Bruno supports self-hosted deployment, which is a core reason teams choose it over Postman. Check the Getting started or Self-hosting section for install commands.

Is Bruno suitable for production?

Bruno is actively maintained with a strong open-source community. Many teams run it in production as a Developer Tools alternative to Postman. Review the At a glance table for license and stack details.

What are alternatives to Bruno and Postman?

Browse alternatives to Postman for more open-source options, including tools compared to Insomnia. Explore the full Developer Tools category for related projects.