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Published Nov 7, 2023 ⦁ 6 min read

Best REST client picks for API testing and development

Introduction

REST (REpresentational State Transfer) APIs have become ubiquitous in modern software development. Whether you're building web services, mobile apps, IoT systems, or any other connected application, you'll likely need to work with REST APIs. To test, debug, and develop these APIs efficiently, a dedicated REST client is essential.

While Postman and cURL are popular basic options, a full-featured REST client can provide far more capabilities to enhance productivity. The best REST clients have intuitive interfaces, support for multiple HTTP methods, code generation tools, built-in mocking, and robust testing features. With so many choices available, it can be tricky to determine the ideal REST client for your needs.

In this post, we'll highlight the key capabilities to evaluate when choosing a REST client. We'll then cover some of the top free and paid REST client picks available today based on criteria like usability, features, community support, and value. As part of DevHunt's mission to feature innovative new developer tools, we'll be sure to include any noteworthy REST clients in our comparisons. Let's dive in!

Features to Look for in a REST Client

When evaluating REST clients, there are several key features and capabilities to consider:

User Interface

The user interface and overall usability of a REST client can have a significant impact on productivity. Some aspects to look for include:

  • Intuitive and visually appealing UI: An uncluttered interface with easily accessible controls helps you work more efficiently.

  • Keyboard shortcuts: Quick access to common actions boosts speed.

  • Customizable interface: Tailor the experience to your preferences.

  • Dark mode: Reduce eye strain when working long hours.

  • Multi-pane layouts: Simultaneously view requests, responses, code snippets, etc.

  • Minimal clutter: Remove unnecessary distractions.

Authentication

Handling authentication is crucial when working with REST APIs. Support for diverse authentication methods is important:

  • OAuth 1.0 and 2.0: Industry standard protocols for authorization.

  • Basic auth: Simple username/password authentication.

  • API keys: Common way to authorize API requests.

  • Bearer tokens: Stateless JWT-based authentication.

  • Digest auth: Hashes username/password to avoid transmitting plain text.

  • AWS Signature v4: Sign requests for added security on AWS.

  • NTLM: Windows NT authentication protocol.

  • Custom auth: Flexibility for proprietary systems.

Testing Capabilities

Thoroughly testing APIs is essential before deployment. Look for built-in tools to assist with validation:

  • Validation rules: Check response values meet expectations, e.g. status code is 200.

  • Status code assertions: Confirm correct status codes are returned.

  • Response body assertions: Validate API output as expected.

  • Extracting values from responses: Use response data in subsequent requests.

  • Chaining requests in sequences: Simulate complex workflows.

  • Test reports and logs: Review detailed request/response info.

  • CI/CD integration: Incorporate into automated pipelines.

  • Monitoring: Get alerts for uptime, performance changes, errors.

Comparing Top Free REST Clients

For developers with budget constraints, here is a quick comparison of some excellent free REST client options:

  • Postman: Very popular with great community support but can be heavy.

  • Insomnia: Intuitive UI and built-in mock servers make it easy to use.

  • Paw: Beautiful interface with code generation capabilities.

All 3 provide core features like request building, response inspection, and testing. Postman may be the most fully-featured but Insomnia and Paw have cleaner UIs. For open source self-hosted options, Insomnia or Paw are likely better picks over Postman.

Top REST Client Picks

With an understanding of key features to evaluate, let's explore some leading options for REST client tools:

Insomnia

  • Open source and free: Lower barrier to entry.

  • Intuitive UI with multi-pane layouts: Efficient workflows.

  • Supports OpenAPI specs: Standardization for documentation.

  • Has built-in mock servers: Simulate APIs locally.

  • Good for debugging APIs: Inspecting traffic helps troubleshoot.

Postman

  • Very popular client with large user base: Tons of community support.

  • Has collaboration features: Share collections with team.

  • Can integrate with GitHub and Jenkins: Enhance existing workflows.

  • Has monitoring and documentation capabilities: Go beyond basic testing.

  • Free and paid versions available: Flexible pricing.

Paw

  • Has beautiful and polished UI: A joy to use.

  • Generates code snippets in multiple languages: Quickly integrate into apps.

  • Has built-in mock server: Prototype locally without real backend.

  • Integrates with JIRA and Slack: Connects with popular tools.

  • Has dynamic values and environments: Easily swap test data.

Key Considerations When Choosing

With many quality REST clients to choose from, it's important to weigh your specific needs and environment when deciding:

  • Intended use cases (testing, development, debugging, etc.): Optimize for your goals.

  • Learning curve and usability: Pick a client matching your skill level.

  • Available features and capabilities: Ensure it has what you need.

  • Cost and licensing options: Balance value and budget.

  • Extensibility and customization: Tailor it to your workflows.

  • Community support and documentation: Vital for resolving issues.

  • Security and reliability: Verify credible vendor.

  • Integration with existing toolchain: Leverage your tech stack.

For example, extensibility may be key if you need to build custom integrations or workflows tailored to your team's needs. And strong community support and documentation can really help when you inevitably run into problems with a new tool.

Conclusion

REST APIs are clearly integral to modern software, and a dedicated REST client can maximize productivity when working with them. After covering the key features to evaluate and highlighting some of the top free and paid REST client picks, hopefully you have a better understanding of the options available today.

The ideal REST client depends heavily on your specific needs and environment. Be sure to try out a few options from DevHunt to find the right fit rather than just going with the most popular tool. By taking the time to find a REST client that truly fits your needs, you can boost your efficiency and streamline API testing and development. With robust tools like the clients highlighted here, you'll be equipped to build and deliver quality APIs faster than ever.

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