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Hoppscotch

by Hoppscotch · Application · also known as Postwoman (former name)

Open-source API client that runs in the browser or as a desktop app, supports REST, GraphQL and realtime protocols, and can be self-hosted for teams

MIT licenseOpen sourceFreeFreemiumEnterpriseCloudSelf-hostedLocalSelf-hostable
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Link verified Nov 2, 2026

Overview

Hoppscotch is an open-source API development client, originally released as Postwoman, maintained by the company of the same name under the MIT license. It started as a web application that sends requests directly from the browser and now also ships desktop builds and a command-line runner. Supported protocols include REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, Server-Sent Events, Socket.IO and MQTT, with collections, environments, pre-request scripts and tests.

The hosted edition at hoppscotch.io is free to use, and the whole stack (web app, backend and admin dashboard) can be self-hosted with Docker for teams who want workspaces on their own infrastructure; paid cloud and enterprise plans add team and governance features. Because browser requests are subject to CORS, Hoppscotch provides a proxy and browser extension to reach APIs that do not allow cross-origin calls, which is a recurring point of friction compared with desktop-only clients. Collections are stored in the application's own format with import from Postman, Insomnia and OpenAPI.

Capabilities

  • REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, SSE, Socket.IO and MQTT requests
  • Collections, environments and scripts
  • Browser, desktop and CLI clients
  • Self-hostable backend with team workspaces
  • Import from Postman, Insomnia and OpenAPI
  • Proxy and extension to bypass CORS restrictions

Typical workflows

  1. Test an API from any browser without installing software
  2. Self-host a team workspace on a private server
  3. Run collections in CI with the CLI

Strengths

  • Open source with a self-hosted option
  • Zero-install browser client
  • Wide protocol coverage

Limitations

  • Browser client is constrained by CORS without a proxy or extension
  • Team features depend on the backend or paid plans
  • Own collection format

Prerequisites

  • A browser, or Docker for self-hosting

Who it is for

  • Developers wanting a lightweight API client
  • Teams self-hosting their tooling

Alternatives & comparison

Postman is the proprietary, cloud-centric reference with the widest feature set; Bruno is an offline desktop client that stores collections as plain files in Git. Hoppscotch sits between them: open source like Bruno, collaborative like Postman, and unique in offering a self-hosted web deployment.

  • Bruno

    Open-source, offline-first API client that stores collections as plain-text .bru files in a Git repository, with a CLI for running requests in CI

    Open sourceOpen source
  • Postman

    Commercial API platform for designing, testing, documenting and monitoring HTTP and other APIs through a desktop and web client with cloud-synced workspaces

    ProprietaryFreemium
Compare Hoppscotch with its alternatives →

Sources & verification

Primary sources consulted for this record. Claims are tied to the fields each source supports; the automated link checker re-verifies every URL on a schedule.

Confidence
High
Reviewed
Nov 1, 2026
Links
Verified · Nov 2, 2026

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