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Bruno
Open-source offline API client — stores collections as files in Git, no account required, 21K GitHub stars.
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About Bruno
Bruno is an open-source API client that stores API collections as plain files on disk (not in a cloud). No account required, no sync fee, no rate limits. Collections live in a folder you version-control with Git.
Bruno vs Postman: Postman stores collections in the cloud and requires an account. Bruno stores collections as plain .bru files on disk. Commit them to Git alongside your code. No vendor lock-in, no subscription, no 3-active-flows limit.
Bruno''s .bru format: human-readable file format for requests, variables, and tests. Version-controllable, diffable, and reviewable in PRs.
No cloud dependency: works completely offline. No data ever leaves your machine unless you explicitly push to a Git remote.
21,000+ GitHub stars gained in 2023-2024, driven by Postman''s restrictive free tier changes.
Key Features
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Offline-first: no network required, no account, no cloud sync by default
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Git-native: .bru files are plain text, diffable, and reviewable in PRs
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GraphQL and REST: supports both protocols natively without plugins
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Environments: local variables per environment (dev, staging, prod) stored as files
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Tests: JavaScript test scripts per request with assertion helpers
Pros
- ✓Stores collections as plain files on disk — version-controllable with Git alongside your code
- ✓No account required: works completely offline with no cloud dependency
- ✓No rate limits or active flow restrictions — unlimited collections and requests
- ✓21,000+ GitHub stars — rapid growth driven by Postman''s restrictive free tier changes
- ✓Human-readable .bru format that is diffable and reviewable in pull requests
Cons
- ✗Smaller feature set than Postman — no mock servers, no API documentation generation
- ✗Collaboration requires Git workflow — no real-time shared workspaces like Postman
- ✗Newer tool (2022) — fewer tutorials and community resources than Postman
Who is using Bruno?
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Developers who want their API collections versioned alongside code in Git
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Privacy-conscious teams who cannot share API data with Postman''s cloud
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Open-source contributors who need a free unlimited API client without restrictions
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Teams who adopted Bruno after Postman restricted the free tier in 2023
Use Cases
- →Storing API collections as .bru files in the project repository alongside the code
- →Reviewing API collection changes in pull requests using Git diff of .bru files
- →Using Bruno completely offline without a Postman account for local API development
- →Migrating from Postman after hitting the 3-active-flows free tier restriction
Pricing
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Open Source : $0/forever — All features, MIT license, Offline, Community support
Pricing details may not be up to date. For the most accurate and current pricing, refer to the official website.
What Makes Bruno Unique?
The open-source API client that stores collections as plain files on disk for Git version control — no account, no cloud, no rate limits, used by developers who were frustrated by Postman''s free tier restrictions.
How We Rated It
GitHub stars from github.com/usebruno/bruno. .bru format specification from Bruno documentation.
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Accuracy and Reliability 4.6/5
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Ease of Use 4.7/5
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Functionality and Features 4.6/5
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Performance and Speed 4.7/5
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Customer Support 4.3/5
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Value for Money 5.0/5
AI summary
Open-source offline API client — stores collections as files in Git, no account required, 21K GitHub stars.