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Cybersecurity · head to head

Milestone XProtect vs Postman

Milestone XProtect logo

Milestone XProtect

Cybersecurity

Open platform video management software with perpetual per-device licences

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Milestone XProtectFull review
Postman logo

Postman

Developer Tools

The API platform for building and using APIs

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit PostmanFull review

The short version

  • Postman is an API platform for building and using APIs.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $109 one-off and $14/mo.
  • Only Milestone XProtect lists perpetual device licences; only Postman lists API client.
  • Where Postman falls short: free plan limited to single user as of March 1, 2026, making it unsuitable for teams without paid plans.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Milestone XProtect and Postman actually diverge.

Attributes where Milestone XProtect and Postman differ
AttributeMilestone XProtectPostman
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Postman, founded for Milestone XProtect.

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 Milestone XProtect

  • Open device support
  • Perpetual device licences
  • Federated architecture
  • Failover recording
  • Evidence export
  • Smart Map
  • Integration platform
  • Video summarisation

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.

Milestone XProtect

  • A city or transport operator running tens of thousands of cameras across federated sitesnot Postman
  • An enterprise with mixed legacy camera brands that refuses to standardise on one manufacturernot Postman
  • A critical infrastructure site needing failover recording servers and tamper-evident evidence exportnot Postman
  • An integrator building a bespoke security application on top of an open VMS platformnot Postman

Postman

  • API testingnot Milestone XProtect
  • API documentationnot Milestone XProtect
  • API monitoringnot Milestone XProtect
  • Team collaborationnot Milestone XProtect
  • API developmentnot Milestone XProtect

Where each one falls short

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

Milestone XProtect

  • Care Plus is presented as optional but is not in practice: without it, perpetual licences stop receiving version upgrades and eventually you cannot add a current camera because your frozen version does not support it
  • Per-device licensing means multi-sensor and multi-imager cameras consume several licences each, so a headline camera count badly understates the true licence cost of a modern design
  • It is Windows only for servers and needs a properly designed server and storage architecture, so the software price is a fraction of a project that also needs recording servers, storage and an integrator
  • Complexity requires trained staff or a certified integrator; organisations that install it without either end up running a large deployment on default settings and never using the features they paid for
  • Milestone retired Kite from its portfolio in favour of Arcules from January 2025, which stranded buyers who had standardised on Kite and is a reminder that the cloud side of the portfolio has changed direction more than once

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

Milestone XProtect

Free
  • XProtect Essential+Free
    • Free for up to 8 cameras
    • No recording time limit
    • No vendor support included
  • XProtect Express+$109 one-off
    • Perpetual device licence, distributor list price
    • Single site, single server
    • Care Plus purchased separately per device per year
  • XProtect Professional+$177 one-off
    • Perpetual device licence, distributor list price
    • Multiple recording servers
    • Edge storage retrieval
  • XProtect Expert$282 one-off
    • Perpetual device licence, distributor list price
    • Failover recording servers
    • Advanced video wall and evidence handling

Postman

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Milestone XProtect if

  • You need open device support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want perpetual device licences.
Milestone XProtect 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 Milestone XProtect or Postman better?
Neither clearly leads. Milestone XProtect 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, Milestone XProtect or Postman?
Milestone XProtect starts at Free and Postman at Free.
Does Milestone XProtect or Postman run on more platforms?
Milestone XProtect runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Postman runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Milestone XProtect for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Milestone XProtect best used for?
Milestone XProtect is most often used for a city or transport operator running tens of thousands of cameras across federated sites, an enterprise with mixed legacy camera brands that refuses to standardise on one manufacturer, a critical infrastructure site needing failover recording servers and tamper-evident evidence export, an integrator building a bespoke security application on top of an open vms platform. Of those, a city or transport operator running tens of thousands of cameras across federated sites and an enterprise with mixed legacy camera brands that refuses to standardise on one manufacturer are not what Postman is typically brought in for.
What can Milestone XProtect do that Postman cannot?
Milestone XProtect covers Open device support, Perpetual device licences, Federated architecture, Failover recording. Postman covers API client, Automated testing, Mock servers, Documentation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Milestone XProtect: Is XProtect really free for small sites?

Essential+ is free for up to eight cameras with no recording time limit, but it comes with no vendor support and no multi-server capability.

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
Milestone XProtect: Are licences perpetual or annual?

Device licences are perpetual. The annual cost is Care Plus, the support and software update contract, which you need to stay on current versions.

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
Milestone XProtect: What happens if I do not renew Care Plus?

The system keeps recording, but you stop getting version upgrades, and over a few years that blocks you from adding newer cameras.

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
Milestone XProtect: Who owns Milestone?

Canon. The portfolio also includes BriefCam analytics and Arcules cloud video, with Arcules replacing Milestone Kite from January 2025.

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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