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Bruno vs Swagger

Bruno logo

Bruno

Software

Open-source IDE for API exploration with git-friendly collections

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Swagger

Software

API design and documentation platform for building, testing, and managing APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Swagger swaggerHub, the commercial layer over the free open source Swagger tools, is sold in Free, Team and Enterprise tiers with the Enterprise tier requiring a sales contact and no public price, per the vendor pricing page
  • They diverge on capability: Bruno covers API Testing, Swagger covers API Specification.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bruno and Swagger actually diverge.

Attributes where Bruno and Swagger differ
AttributeBrunoSwagger
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWeb, CLI, Desktop
Founded20222011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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
  • Git repositories
  • Local file system
  • Windows support
  • MacOS support
  • Linux support

Only in Swagger

  • API Specification
  • Interactive Documentation
  • Code Generation
  • GitLab
  • Azure DevOps
  • Jira
  • Web support
  • CLI support

Both cover

  • GitHub

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 Swagger
  • Keeping API collections in Git rather than a vendor cloudnot Swagger
  • Offline API development without an accountnot Swagger
  • Importing and syncing OpenAPI specificationsnot Swagger

Swagger

  • 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

Swagger

  • SwaggerHub, the commercial layer over the free open source Swagger tools, is sold in Free, Team and Enterprise tiers with the Enterprise tier requiring a sales contact and no public price, per the vendor pricing page

Pricing, plan by plan

Bruno

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full IDE features
    • Git integration
    • Local storage

Swagger

Free
  • FreeFree
    • OpenAPI specification
    • Swagger UI
    • API documentation
  • Professional$20/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • Team collaboration
    • API testing
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Advanced security
    • Dedicated 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.
Bruno review

Choose Swagger if

  • You need api specification.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, CLI, Desktop.
  • You also want interactive documentation.
Swagger review

Questions people ask

Is Bruno or Swagger better?
Neither clearly leads. Bruno starts at Free and Swagger at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bruno or Swagger?
Bruno starts at Free and Swagger at Free.
Does Bruno or Swagger run on more platforms?
Bruno runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Swagger runs on Web, CLI, Desktop.
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 Swagger is typically brought in for.
What can Bruno do that Swagger cannot?
Bruno covers API Testing, Environment management, Git-friendly storage, Git repositories. Swagger covers API Specification, Interactive Documentation, Code Generation, GitLab. Both handle GitHub.
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