Softwr

API Management · head to head

3scale vs Postman

3scale logo

3scale

API Management

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Postman logo

Postman

Technology

The API platform for building and using APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Postman has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 3scale red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date; Postman free plan limited to single user as of March 1, 2026, making it unsuitable for teams without paid plans
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers API Gateway, Postman covers API client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and Postman actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and Postman differ
Attribute3scalePostman
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
CategoryAPI ManagementTechnology
Founded19932014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3scale

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • API Monetization
  • Red Hat OpenShift
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud support

Only in Postman

  • API client
  • Automated testing
  • Mock servers
  • Documentation
  • Monitors
  • Workspaces
  • Version control
  • API design

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3scale

  • API gateway and lifecycle managementnot Postman
  • Rate limiting and traffic control across API consumersnot Postman
  • Developer portal and access key managementnot Postman
  • Monetising APIs with usage-based plansnot Postman
  • Hybrid deployment across on-premises and cloudnot Postman

Postman

  • API testingnot 3scale
  • API documentationnot 3scale
  • API monitoringnot 3scale
  • Team collaborationnot 3scale
  • API developmentnot 3scale

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3scale

  • Red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date
  • Sold as part of Red Hat middleware rather than standalone, and 3scale.net redirects into redhat.com
  • Pricing is not published and a subscription is required for some services

Postman

  • Free plan limited to single user as of March 1, 2026, making it unsuitable for teams without paid plans
  • Only 25 collection runs per month and 1,000 API calls/month on free tier
  • Removed local-only Scratch Pad mode in 2023, forcing cloud account creation and sync
  • Requires Postman account and internet connection for most features
  • Cloud-first architecture with mandatory syncing to Postman's cloud servers
  • No CI/CD integration or advanced security features on free plan

Pricing, plan by plan

3scale

$300/monthly
  • Starter$300/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Developer portal
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$750/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • API monetization
    • Enhanced support
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Dedicated support
    • Premium SLA

Postman

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 user
    • 25 collection runs/month
    • 1,000 API calls/month
  • Team$14/month
    • Team collaboration
    • Shared workspaces
    • API mocking
  • Professional$29/month
    • Team features
    • Advanced security
    • SSO
  • Enterprise$49/month
    • Professional features
    • Custom integrations
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose 3scale if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want developer portal.
3scale review

Choose Postman if

  • You need api client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want automated testing.
Postman review

Questions people ask

Is 3scale or Postman better?
Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and Postman at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3scale or Postman?
Postman has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/monthly for 3scale and Free for Postman.
Does 3scale or Postman run on more platforms?
3scale runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. Postman runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Postman for free?
Yes. Postman has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3scale starts at $300/monthly.
What is 3scale best used for?
3scale is most often used for api gateway and lifecycle management, rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers, developer portal and access key management, monetising apis with usage-based plans. Of those, api gateway and lifecycle management and rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers are not what Postman is typically brought in for.
What can 3scale do that Postman cannot?
3scale covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift. Postman covers API client, Automated testing, Mock servers, Documentation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Postman: What is the cost of Postman?

Postman has a free plan limited to 1 user, 25 collection runs/month, 1,000 API calls/month. Team plans start at $14/user/month for Basic. Professional at $29/user/month, and Enterprise at $49/user/month.

Source
Postman: Can I use Postman offline?

Postman requires an internet connection to sync collections to the cloud. Since 2023, the Scratch Pad local-only mode was removed. Users must sign in with a Postman account, and collections sync to cloud by default. Offline work is possible but limited without cloud sync features.

Source
Postman: Does Postman have team collaboration?

Team collaboration is not available on the free plan (limited to 1 user). Team plans start at $14/user/month and include shared workspaces, real-time collaboration, and team management features.

Source
Postman: What are the free plan limits?

Free plan allows: 1 user only, 25 collection runs per month, 1,000 API calls/month, and 1,000 mock server calls/month. No CI/CD integration or advanced security features.

Source
Postman: Does Postman work with other development tools?

Postman integrates with Git repositories, offers a Node.js runner (Newman) for automation, and connects with popular CI/CD platforms. Teams using git-native workflows may prefer alternatives like Bruno.

Source
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