hostman is a fast, account-free desktop client for HTTP, WebSocket, and gRPC. No tracking, no cloud sync—just pure local execution.
Call endpoints, inspect exact network responses, and organize your API requests locally with zero overhead.
Execute GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and GraphQL queries with full support for JSON, Form Data, and binary uploads.
Maintain persistent connections to send and inspect streaming messages, live feeds, and event sockets.
Test microservice endpoints natively using .proto specs or server reflection without code generation.
Most API clients have morphed into heavy cloud platforms. hostman returns to the essentials: sending requests and inspecting responses rapidly on your local machine.
No account, no sign-up, no external dependencies. Lightweight footprint on disk.
There is no login screen or telemetry server. hostman communicates only with the endpoints you specify.
Collections save as readable JSON under ~/.hostman/collections/. Easily version control, diff, or share via repositories.
No paid tiers, request caps, or team limits. Access all features out of the box.
Manage HTTP, WebSocket, and gRPC in side-by-side tabs while sharing environment variables and history.
Pinpoint bottlenecks with granular timing metrics: DNS, TCP connect, TLS handshake, TTFB, and download duration.
If your workflow depends on automated CI test runners, cloud team workspaces, or complex auth flows, tools like Postman or Bruno are better suited.
hostman is built strictly for rapid, manual request inspection with zero overhead.
hostman's niche is narrow on purpose: the lightweight, local-first client for sending HTTP, WebSocket, or gRPC requests and inspecting responses.
| Tool | Scope | Account | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| hostman | HTTP + WebSocket + gRPC (Core testing focus) | None, ever | Plain JSON files on disk |
| Postman | Full API platform (Mocks, docs, CI pipelines) | Required (Cloud sync) | Proprietary cloud storage |
| Bruno | HTTP-first desktop client | None | Plain files (Git-friendly) |
| Insomnia | API Client & Design platform | Nudged over time | Proprietary cloud sync |
| curl / HTTPie | CLI-based tool, scriptable | None | User scripts |
| Paw / RapidAPI | Native Mac API client | None | Paid license |
No Node.js, Python, Java, Docker, or account setup required.