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Eclipse vs Postman

Eclipse logo

Eclipse

Software

The Eclipse Foundation - home to a global community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Postman logo

Postman

Software

The API platform for building and using APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Eclipse high memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed; Postman free plan limited to single user as of March 1, 2026, making it unsuitable for teams without paid plans
  • They diverge on capability: Eclipse covers Java development environment, Postman covers API client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Eclipse and Postman actually diverge.

Attributes where Eclipse and Postman differ
AttributeEclipsePostman
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
Founded20012014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Eclipse

  • Java development environment
  • Extensible plugin architecture
  • Integrated debugger
  • Code refactoring
  • Version control integration
  • Build automation
  • Multi-language support
  • Rich client platform

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.

Eclipse

  • Java application developmentnot Postman
  • Enterprise software developmentnot Postman
  • Web application developmentnot Postman
  • Plugin developmentnot Postman
  • Educational programmingnot Postman

Postman

  • API testingnot Eclipse
  • API documentationnot Eclipse
  • API monitoringnot Eclipse
  • Team collaborationnot Eclipse
  • API developmentnot Eclipse

Where each one falls short

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

Eclipse

  • High memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
  • Slow startup times and performance degradation with large projects or many open editors
  • Requires configuration of eclipse.ini file to optimize heap sizes for adequate performance
  • User interface considered outdated compared to modern IDE alternatives
  • User base fell from 39% of Java developers in 2024 to 28% in 2025, indicating market decline

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

Eclipse

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Eclipse review.

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 Eclipse if

  • You need java development environment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want extensible plugin architecture.
Eclipse 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 Eclipse or Postman better?
Neither clearly leads. Eclipse starts at Free and Postman at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Eclipse or Postman?
Eclipse starts at Free and Postman at Free.
Does Eclipse or Postman run on more platforms?
Eclipse runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Postman runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Eclipse for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Eclipse best used for?
Eclipse is most often used for java application development, enterprise software development, web application development, plugin development. Of those, java application development and enterprise software development are not what Postman is typically brought in for.
What can Eclipse do that Postman cannot?
Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, Code refactoring. Postman covers API client, Automated testing, Mock servers, Documentation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Eclipse: How much does Eclipse IDE cost?

Eclipse IDE is completely free and open-source, released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.

Source
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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