Alternatives to ain
A terminal HTTP API client that runs requests defined in plain-text template files. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
ain
A terminal HTTP API client that runs requests defined in plain-text template files.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as ain.
HTTPie
Human-friendly command line HTTP client with colourised output.
HTTPie replaces template files with key=value arguments and colourised output, and is open source under BSD-3-Clause, but it starts slower because it is a Python application.
curl
Command-line tool for transferring data with URLs, supporting dozens of protocols.
curl is open source and present on almost every system with dozens of protocols, but it has no way to organise or replay saved requests like ain's template files.
Hurl
Write HTTP requests and response checks in plain text files.
Hurl keeps requests in plain text files like ain, adds request chaining with response assertions, and is open source under the Apache-2.0 license.
httpYac
A command-line and VS Code client for sending HTTP, GraphQL, SOAP and gRPC requests from files.
httpYac stores requests as plain-text files, adds GraphQL, SOAP and gRPC plus built-in OAuth2 and AWS auth, and runs through the CLI or a VS Code extension.
Slumber
A terminal user interface HTTP and REST client that runs requests from collections defined in YAML.
Slumber gives a terminal user interface instead of plain command runs, with request collections defined as YAML files that can be kept in version control, and is open source.
Posting
A keyboard-driven HTTP client with a text interface that runs in the terminal.
Posting offers a keyboard-driven text interface in the terminal that works over SSH, is open source under Apache-2.0, and needs a Python environment to install.
ATAC
A Postman-like API client that runs entirely inside the terminal with keyboard-driven navigation.
ATAC moves to a Postman-style interface inside the terminal with optional Vim key bindings, is open source under MIT, but is still working toward its 1.0 release.
xh
Send HTTP requests from a concise terminal interface.
xh sends requests from a concise command-line syntax with structured data instead of template files, is open source under MIT, and is only partly compatible with HTTPie.
Also worth comparing
These listings name ain as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
rest.nvim
A Neovim plugin that sends HTTP requests written in .http files from inside the editor.
ain runs requests from plain-text template files in the terminal with .env support and curl export, without needing any editor, though it is not open source.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
REST Client for VS Code
A Visual Studio Code extension that sends HTTP requests written in .http files and shows responses.
kulala.nvim
A Neovim plugin for sending HTTP, GraphQL, gRPC and WebSocket requests from .http files.
curlconverter
A web tool that converts curl commands into equivalent code for dozens of languages and libraries.
Bruno
An API client that saves collections as plain files in a folder, so Git handles the sharing instead of a cloud account.
