Software · head to head
HTTPie vs Bruno
HTTPie
Software
Command-line HTTP client with intuitive interface and syntax
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Bruno
Software
Open-source IDE for API exploration with git-friendly collections
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: HTTPie the desktop application is in public beta rather than a finished release; Bruno native Git integration, the feature that distinguishes it from cloud API clients, is Pro only at $6 per user per month
- They diverge on capability: HTTPie covers REST Client, Bruno covers API Testing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which HTTPie and Bruno 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 HTTPie
- REST Client
- JSON support
- Colored output
- CI/CD
- Shell scripting
- Automation
- Web support
Only in Bruno
- API Testing
- Environment management
- Git-friendly storage
- GitHub
- Git repositories
- Local file system
Both cover
- Linux support
- MacOS support
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
HTTPie
- Sending and inspecting HTTP requests from the terminalnot Bruno
- A readable alternative to curl for API debuggingnot Bruno
- Testing APIs through a graphical clientnot Bruno
- Installing through apt, brew or pip in a development environmentnot Bruno
Bruno
- Sending and testing HTTP requests from a local clientnot HTTPie
- Keeping API collections in Git rather than a vendor cloudnot HTTPie
- Offline API development without an accountnot HTTPie
- Importing and syncing OpenAPI specificationsnot HTTPie
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
HTTPie
- The desktop application is in public beta rather than a finished release
- Pricing for the desktop and web products is not published, while the terminal client is free and open source
- The graphical versions are newer than the CLI, so parity between them is not guaranteed
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
Pricing, plan by plan
HTTPie
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full HTTPie CLI
- Community support
- HTTPie for Web$10/monthly
- Web interface
- Cloud storage
- Team collaboration
Bruno
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full IDE features
- Git integration
- Local storage
Which should you pick?
Choose HTTPie if
- You need rest client.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Web.
- You also want json support.
Choose Bruno if
- You need api testing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want environment management.
Questions people ask
- Is HTTPie or Bruno better?
- Neither clearly leads. HTTPie starts at Free and Bruno at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, HTTPie or Bruno?
- HTTPie starts at Free and Bruno at Free.
- Does HTTPie or Bruno run on more platforms?
- HTTPie runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Web. Bruno runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- Can I use HTTPie for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is HTTPie best used for?
- HTTPie is most often used for sending and inspecting http requests from the terminal, a readable alternative to curl for api debugging, testing apis through a graphical client, installing through apt, brew or pip in a development environment. Of those, sending and inspecting http requests from the terminal and a readable alternative to curl for api debugging are not what Bruno is typically brought in for.
- What can HTTPie do that Bruno cannot?
- HTTPie covers REST Client, JSON support, Colored output, CI/CD. Bruno covers API Testing, Environment management, Git-friendly storage, GitHub. Both handle Linux support, MacOS support, Windows support.