Software · head to head
Bruno vs curl
Bruno
Software
Open-source IDE for API exploration with git-friendly collections
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
curl
Software
Command-line tool for transferring data using URLs with wide protocol support
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Bruno native Git integration, the feature that distinguishes it from cloud API clients, is Pro only at $6 per user per month; curl free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship
- They diverge on capability: Bruno covers API Testing, curl covers HTTP/HTTPS.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bruno and curl actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Bruno
- API Testing
- Environment management
- Git-friendly storage
- GitHub
- Git repositories
- Local file system
Only in curl
- HTTP/HTTPS
- FTP
- Multiple protocols
- Universal compatibility
- Scripting tools
- Unix support
- Mobile support
Both cover
- Windows support
- MacOS support
- Linux support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bruno
- Sending and testing HTTP requests from a local clientnot curl
- Keeping API collections in Git rather than a vendor cloudnot curl
- Offline API development without an accountnot curl
- Importing and syncing OpenAPI specificationsnot curl
curl
- API Developmentnot Bruno
- API Gatewaynot Bruno
- API Testingnot Bruno
- API Documentationnot Bruno
- Microservicesnot Bruno
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Bruno
- Native Git integration, the feature that distinguishes it from cloud API clients, is Pro only at $6 per user per month
- OpenAPI syncs are capped at 5 a month on the free tier
- SSO, SCIM and user management require Ultimate at $11 per user per month
- Private workspaces are a paid feature
- Advertised prices are annual rates
curl
- Free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship
Pricing, plan by plan
Bruno
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full IDE features
- Git integration
- Local storage
curl
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full curl functionality
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Bruno if
- You need api testing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want environment management.
Choose curl if
- You need http/https.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile.
- You also want ftp.
Questions people ask
- Is Bruno or curl better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bruno starts at Free and curl at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bruno or curl?
- Bruno starts at Free and curl at Free.
- Does Bruno or curl run on more platforms?
- Bruno runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. curl runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile.
- Can I use Bruno for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Bruno best used for?
- Bruno is most often used for sending and testing http requests from a local client, keeping api collections in git rather than a vendor cloud, offline api development without an account, importing and syncing openapi specifications. Of those, sending and testing http requests from a local client and keeping api collections in git rather than a vendor cloud are not what curl is typically brought in for.
- What can Bruno do that curl cannot?
- Bruno covers API Testing, Environment management, Git-friendly storage, GitHub. curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, Multiple protocols, Universal compatibility. Both handle Windows support, MacOS support, Linux support.