Why look for a Postman alternative?
While Postman is a popular API testing tool, many developers are seeking alternatives due to concerns about privacy, mandatory account requirements, and the shift toward cloud features. HITOP offers a compelling alternative for developers who value privacy and simplicity.
Key difference: privacy first
HITOP stores all your data locally on your device. No cloud sync, no account, no data collection. Your API endpoints, authentication tokens and test data stay on your machine. The web app sends requests to public APIs through the HITOP request proxy, which keeps nothing; the Mac and iOS apps, the CLI and the extensions send them straight from your device.
HITOP vs Postman: feature comparison
A longer comparison with sources is in HITOP vs Postman.
| Feature | HITOP | Postman |
|---|---|---|
| Account required | No | The free plan starts with a sign up |
| Data storage | On your device | Cloud sync |
| Works offline | Mac, iOS and CLI apps | Partial |
| Installation | Web app (no install), extensions, Mac, iOS, CLI | Desktop or web app with an account |
| License | MIT (web, extensions, CLI) | Proprietary |
| Cost | Free (web, extensions, CLI); Mac $4.99, iOS $2.99 once | Free for 1 user, Solo $9 per month, Team $19 per user per month (billed annually), Enterprise by quote (checked 2026-11-01) |
| Collections | Yes | Yes |
| Variables | Yes | Yes |
| Scripts before and after | Yes | Yes |
| Request history | Yes | Yes |
Top reasons to switch from Postman to HITOP
1. No account registration
Start testing APIs immediately without creating an account, verifying email, or providing personal information. HITOP respects your privacy from the first click.
2. Complete privacy control
All your collections, requests, and variables are stored on your device. Nothing is synced to a cloud. For internal or sensitive APIs, use the Mac app, the CLI or an extension, which send requests straight from your machine.
3. Works offline
The HITOP Mac app, iOS app and CLI work with no internet connection. Test APIs on airplanes, in secure environments, or anywhere without connectivity. The web app needs a connection, because public requests go through the hitop.rws8.tech proxy.
4. Open source
The HITOP web app, extensions and CLI are open source under the MIT License. You can inspect the code, contribute features, or fork it for your own needs. Complete transparency.
5. Lightweight and fast
No bloated desktop application. The web app runs in your browser with a clean, responsive interface that doesn't slow down your workflow.
6. Works everywhere
The web app works on any operating system with a modern browser: Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS. There are also Chrome and Firefox extensions, Mac and iOS apps, and a CLI.
What you get with HITOP
- Full HTTP method support: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, HEAD, OPTIONS
- Request collections: Organize and manage your API tests
- Collection variables: Reuse a base URL or token across requests
- Custom headers: Add authentication and custom headers
- Request body: JSON, form data, and raw body support
- Response viewer: Syntax highlighting for JSON, XML, HTML
- Collection runner: Execute multiple requests sequentially
- Import and export: Share collections with your team
- Script before and Script after: JavaScript automation before the request and after the response
- Request history: Track all your API calls
Migration from Postman
Switching from Postman to HITOP is straightforward:
- Export your Postman collections as JSON (Collection v2.1), and your environments and globals
- Open HITOP and use the Import feature, or run
hitop import <files> --to ./my-api - Your collections, requests, and variables are ready to use
The full steps, including secrets and scripts, are in Migrate from Postman.
Pro tip
HITOP supports Postman collection format, making migration seamless. You can even use both tools side by side during your transition.
Who should use HITOP?
- Developers who care about privacy: Keep your API data on your device
- Enterprise teams: Test internal APIs without cloud sync concerns
- Freelancers: No subscription or account management
- Students: Learn API testing without barriers
- Open source contributors: Support and improve the tool