Alternatives to Restfox
A lightweight, offline-first open-source HTTP client that runs in the browser and on the desktop. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Restfox
A lightweight, offline-first open-source HTTP client that runs in the browser and on the desktop.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Restfox.
Hoppscotch
A fast API client that runs in a browser tab, with a self-hostable workspace if you want one.
Hoppscotch is also a light browser-based client, open source under MIT, adding GraphQL, WebSocket, MQTT and self-hosting, with team collaboration as the paid part.
Postman
The most widely used API client, for sending HTTP requests, organising them into collections and sharing them with a team.
Postman adds team workspaces, test scripts, a runner and mock servers, but it is closed source and built around a cloud account rather than offline use.
Insomnia
An API client for REST, GraphQL and gRPC that can keep everything local or sync through Git instead of a cloud.
Insomnia is an open-source desktop client with GraphQL, gRPC, an OpenAPI editor and test suites, but it is heavier and most features expect 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 offline desktop client storing collections as files for Git, with a command line runner for CI, but it is heavier as an Electron app.
Yaak
An offline-first API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets and SSE, with requests stored as files you can commit to git.
Yaak is an offline-first MIT-licensed desktop client adding GraphQL, gRPC and imports from Postman and OpenAPI, but it does not run in the browser.
Firecamp
An open-source API client for testing REST, GraphQL, WebSocket and Socket.IO requests in the browser.
Firecamp is another open-source browser client that adds WebSocket and Socket.IO testing, but saving requests and collections requires an account.
ReqBin
An online tool for sending REST and SOAP API requests directly from the browser.
ReqBin is a closed-source online tool needing no install or login, but requests go through its servers, making local or private endpoints harder to reach.
RESTer
A browser extension for Firefox and Chrome for crafting and sending HTTP requests.
RESTer runs as a Firefox and Chrome extension with saved requests, but is not open source and has no desktop or offline web version.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Restfox as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Scalar API Client
An open-source, OpenAPI-aware API client for sending and testing HTTP requests, from the Scalar API platform.
Restfox is a lightweight open-source client usable offline in the browser, without OpenAPI awareness but also without a commercial documentation platform around it.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
curlconverter
A web tool that converts curl commands into equivalent code for dozens of languages and libraries.
Apollo Sandbox
A free web-based GraphQL explorer for writing and running queries against any GraphQL endpoint.
curl
Command-line tool for transferring data with URLs, supporting dozens of protocols.
HTTPie
Human-friendly command line HTTP client with colourised output.
Mockoon
A desktop app and CLI for designing and running mock REST APIs locally without an account.
