Bruno vs Postman: A Developer’s View

APIs are core to modern applications. For years, Postman has been the default tool to design, test, document, and automate APIs. Recently, Bruno (from usebruno) has been emerging as a strong alternative.

In this post, we’ll cover:

What Bruno is, in detail
Key features of Bruno — what sets it apart
What Bruno has that Postman lacks (or does differently)
Bruno’s extensions / plugins / add-ons, with links
Some trade-offs to be aware of

What is Bruno

Bruno is an open-source, Git-friendly, offline-first API client. (usebruno.com)

Key design goals:

Store collections on your local file system (with a plain text “.bru” markup language) so you can version them with Git or any version control. (docs.usebruno.com)
No cloud syncing / no vendor lock-in. Your data stays on your device.
Cross-platform: works on Windows, macOS, Linux.

So Bruno gives you a lightweight, more transparent, more controllable API testing / client tool.

Key Features of Bruno

Here’s a breakdown of what Bruno can do — especially those features many Postman users may not get, or where Bruno offers a different / lighter workflow.

Category	Bruno Feature	Details / Why It Matters
Local & Git-centred	Local storage of collections, using `.bru` files, plain text markup	Means your API tests / requests are easy to diff, merge, version control, review. (github.com)
Offline First & Privacy	Works without needing cloud login; no cloud sync; no external account required for core use	Good for sensitive work, internal APIs, or whenever internet access is spotty.
Multiple Protocols & Auth	REST, GraphQL, gRPC support; many auth methods (OAuth2, Basic, Bearer, AWS signatures, NTLM etc.)	Covers most use-cases for APIs.
Scripting & Assertions	JavaScript pre-/ post-request scripting; declarative assertions (“Assert” panel) for basic tests without writing full JS	Makes simple testing faster; more expressive for more complex ones.
CLI (Command-Line Interface)	Run collections or requests via `bru run`, generate reports (JSON, JUnit, HTML), filter by tags, parallel execution, use external data sources (CSV, JSON) etc.	Enables automation, CI/CD workflows. (docs.usebruno.com)
VS Code Extension	Native `.bru` file support; send requests from within VS Code; inline testing; dual view (text & GUI); syntax highlighting; environment variables etc.	(docs.usebruno.com)
OpenAPI / Converters	Import OpenAPI specs; export collections as OpenAPI; converters from Postman/Insomnia → Bruno etc.	Helps if you’re migrating or want to generate documentation/specs.

Bruno vs Postman: What Bruno Does Better (or Differently)

Here are areas where Bruno tends to shine, especially compared to Postman.

Version control & transparency
Bruno’s collections are just files/folders on disk, readable/editable. Postman collections are often cloud-centric and less transparent.
No forced cloud login / offline mode
Bruno does not require login or cloud sync — great for privacy and offline use.
Lower overhead, lighter UI / memory usage
Bruno feels lighter, faster, and less bloated.
Unlimited runs / fewer artificial limits
Postman’s free tier imposes restrictions; Bruno avoids this.
Cost & licensing clarity
Bruno is open source; while there are paid editions, many essentials are free.

Bruno’s Plugins / Extensions / Related Repos

Bruno doesn’t yet have a formal plugin marketplace, but it provides extensions, integrations, and related repos:

Repo / Extension	Purpose / What it Adds	Link
usebruno/bruno-ide-extensions	IDE extensions (VS Code released, IntelliJ & others in progress). Enables `.bru` workflows inside IDEs.
VS Code Extension	Use Bruno inside VS Code: send requests, manage collections, syntax highlighting, GUI/text views.	docs.usebruno.com
Converters	Tools to convert Postman/Insomnia collections or OpenAPI specs into Bruno format.	docs.usebruno.com
Bru Lang	Markup syntax for `.bru` files — write requests in a text-first way.	docs.usebruno.com
CLI (bru)	Command line tool for automation, CI/CD, reporting.	docs.usebruno.com

👉 A plugin system is being discussed for the future. See GitHub Issue #1529.

What Postman Offers that Bruno Might Not Yet Match

To be fair, Postman has been around longer. Some features where Postman is ahead:

Mock servers for simulating API responses.
Flows / visual workflows to chain requests.
Enterprise collaboration & governance tools.
Monitoring dashboards for uptime and API performance.
Polished UX and integrations across the ecosystem.

When Bruno Is the Better Choice

Bruno is often the better pick when:

You need local-first, Git-friendly workflows.
You want full control and privacy, without vendor lock-in.
Your APIs are internal / microservices where cloud is unnecessary.
You want lightweight, fast, and free tooling.
You care about version control of API definitions/tests alongside code.

Trade-offs / Limitations of Bruno

Newer project; some rough edges and missing polish.
No advanced mocking or visual flow builders yet.
Enterprise-level collaboration features still maturing.
Paid editions may be required for advanced functionality.
UX for non-technical users may feel less polished than Postman.

Conclusion

Bruno is a compelling tool. Its local-first design, Git integration, speed, and transparency make it stand out.

For many developers and small teams, it covers nearly everything Postman does — without the limits, costs, or cloud lock-in.

That said, if you need mock servers, team dashboards, or enterprise workflows, Postman may still be the stronger choice. A hybrid approach also works well: Bruno for development, Postman for enterprise collaboration and monitoring.