Alternatives to ATAC
A Postman-like API client that runs entirely inside the terminal with keyboard-driven navigation. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
ATAC
A Postman-like API client that runs entirely inside the terminal with keyboard-driven navigation.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as ATAC.
Posting
A keyboard-driven HTTP client with a text interface that runs in the terminal.
Posting is another keyboard-driven terminal HTTP client under Apache-2.0 that works over SSH, but it needs a Python environment to install.
Slumber
A terminal user interface HTTP and REST client that runs requests from collections defined in YAML.
Slumber is an open-source terminal HTTP client that defines request collections in YAML files, which suit version control but require writing YAML by hand.
ain
A terminal HTTP API client that runs requests defined in plain-text template files.
ain runs requests from plain-text template files in the terminal with .env support and curl export, but it is not open source and has a smaller community.
Postman
The most widely used API client, for sending HTTP requests, organising them into collections and sharing them with a team.
Postman offers a graphical desktop and browser client with collections, scripts and mocks, but it is closed source and effectively requires an account.
Bruno
An API client that saves collections as plain files in a folder, so Git handles the sharing instead of a cloud account.
Bruno is an MIT-licensed graphical desktop client that stores collections as Git-friendly files and adds a command line runner, though it runs on Electron and is heavier.
Insomnia
An API client for REST, GraphQL and gRPC that can keep everything local or sync through Git instead of a cloud.
Insomnia is a graphical Apache-2.0 desktop client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets and SSE with testing and mocking, though most features expect an account.
Hoppscotch
A fast API client that runs in a browser tab, with a self-hostable workspace if you want one.
Hoppscotch replaces the terminal with a browser tab or desktop app, supports HTTP, GraphQL, WebSocket, SSE and MQTT, and can be self-hosted under the MIT license.
kulala.nvim
A Neovim plugin for sending HTTP, GraphQL, gRPC and WebSocket requests from .http files.
kulala.nvim moves requests into .http files inside Neovim, adding GraphQL, gRPC and WebSocket, but requires Neovim and has no standalone interface.
Also worth comparing
These listings name ATAC as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Restish
A command-line client for REST-style APIs that discovers operations and schemas from OpenAPI documents.
ATAC offers a full Postman-style client inside the terminal with optional Vim bindings under MIT, instead of scriptable commands generated from an OpenAPI document.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
HTTPie
Human-friendly command line HTTP client with colourised output.
xh
Send HTTP requests from a concise terminal interface.
curl
Command-line tool for transferring data with URLs, supporting dozens of protocols.
curlie
Send HTTP requests with readable syntax built around curl.
Hurl
Write HTTP requests and response checks in plain text files.
