Hoppscotch

What is Hoppscotch?

Hoppscotch is an open-source API development ecosystem that provides a fast, beautiful, and free alternative to Postman. Originally launched as Postwoman, this lightweight tool enables developers to test, debug, and interact with APIs directly from the browser without installing heavy desktop applications. The platform’s minimalist design and instant responsiveness have made it a favorite among developers who value speed and simplicity.

What distinguishes Hoppscotch from traditional API clients is its browser-first architecture. The application runs entirely in your web browser, requiring no installation and consuming minimal system resources. Despite this lightweight approach, Hoppscotch provides comprehensive API testing capabilities including REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, Socket.IO, MQTT, and Server-Sent Events support. The tool handles authentication, environment variables, collections, and team collaboration—everything needed for professional API development.

Hoppscotch embraces open-source principles with its MIT license, allowing developers to self-host, modify, and contribute to the platform. The active community continuously improves functionality while maintaining the clean, fast experience that defines the project. Whether testing a quick endpoint or building comprehensive API documentation, Hoppscotch delivers professional capabilities without the bloat of traditional tools.

Key Features

• Browser-Based: Runs entirely in the browser with no installation required. Access from any device with a web browser and start testing APIs immediately.
• Multiple Protocols: Support for REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, Socket.IO, MQTT, and Server-Sent Events. Test any type of API from a single interface.
• Real-Time Response: Instant request execution with live response preview. See results as they arrive without waiting for page reloads.
• Environment Variables: Define variables for different environments (development, staging, production). Switch contexts without modifying requests.
• Collections: Organize requests into collections for better project management. Share collections with team members or export for documentation.
• Authentication Support: Built-in support for Bearer tokens, Basic Auth, OAuth 2.0, API keys, and custom headers. Handle any authentication scheme.
• Request History: Automatic history tracking of all requests. Quickly repeat or modify previous API calls.
• Pre-Request Scripts: Execute JavaScript before requests for dynamic values, timestamps, or computed parameters.
• Response Visualization: Pretty-printed JSON, XML, and HTML responses with syntax highlighting. Copy, download, or inspect response data easily.
• PWA Support: Install as a Progressive Web App for offline access and native app-like experience while maintaining browser benefits.

Recent Updates and Improvements

Hoppscotch maintains active development with frequent releases adding features, improving performance, and expanding protocol support.

• Team Workspaces: Collaborative workspaces for teams to share collections, environments, and requests. Real-time synchronization across team members.
• Self-Hosted Edition: Official self-hosted deployment option for organizations requiring data control and custom infrastructure.
• CLI Tool: Command-line interface for running collections in CI/CD pipelines and automated testing workflows.
• Improved GraphQL: Enhanced GraphQL support with schema introspection, auto-completion, and documentation browser.
• Desktop Apps: Native desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux providing browser extension capabilities.
• Import/Export: Import collections from Postman, Insomnia, and OpenAPI specifications. Export in multiple formats.
• Performance Optimization: Faster request execution, reduced memory usage, and improved handling of large responses.
• UI Enhancements: Refreshed interface with better organization, keyboard shortcuts, and accessibility improvements.

System Requirements

Web Version

• Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Internet connection (for cloud features)
• JavaScript enabled

Desktop Applications

• Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+, or Linux
• 4 GB RAM minimum
• 200 MB storage

Self-Hosted Requirements

• Docker and Docker Compose
• 2 GB RAM minimum
• PostgreSQL database
• Node.js 18+ (if building from source)

How to Install Hoppscotch

Web Access (Instant)

# Visit hoppscotch.io in your browser
# No installation required
# Start testing APIs immediately

# Install as PWA (optional)
# Click install icon in browser address bar
# Hoppscotch installs as desktop app

Desktop Application

# Download from hoppscotch.io/download
# Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux

# macOS with Homebrew
brew install --cask hoppscotch

# Linux via AppImage
chmod +x Hoppscotch.AppImage
./Hoppscotch.AppImage

Self-Hosted Deployment

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/hoppscotch/hoppscotch.git
cd hoppscotch

# Configure environment
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your settings

# Start with Docker Compose
docker-compose up -d

# Access at http://localhost:3000

Basic API Testing

# 1. Enter request URL
https://api.example.com/users

# 2. Select HTTP method
GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.

# 3. Add headers (optional)
Authorization: Bearer your-token
Content-Type: application/json

# 4. Add request body (for POST/PUT)
{
  "name": "John Doe",
  "email": "john@example.com"
}

# 5. Click Send
# View response in real-time

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lightning Fast: Browser-based architecture provides instant startup and responsive interface without resource-heavy desktop apps.
• Free and Open Source: MIT license with no feature restrictions. Self-host or use the cloud version without cost concerns.
• No Installation: Access from any browser immediately. Perfect for quick tests or working on different machines.
• Multi-Protocol: REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and more in one tool. No need for separate applications for different API types.
• Beautiful Design: Clean, modern interface that’s pleasant to use. Dark mode and customization options available.
• Active Development: Regular updates with new features and improvements. Responsive community and maintainers.
• Privacy Focused: Requests go directly from your browser. Self-host for complete data control.

Cons

• Browser Limitations: Some advanced features may be limited by browser security policies (CORS, certificates).
• Offline Limitations: Cloud version requires internet. PWA mode provides partial offline support.
• Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer integrations and extensions compared to Postman’s mature ecosystem.
• Team Features: Advanced team collaboration requires self-hosted or cloud account setup.
• Learning Curve: Different workflow from Postman may require adjustment for experienced users.

Hoppscotch vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Hoppscotch?

Hoppscotch is ideal for:

• Speed-Focused Developers: Those who value quick access and fast performance over feature bloat.
• Open Source Advocates: Developers preferring open-source tools with self-hosting options and community development.
• Resource-Conscious Users: Anyone frustrated with memory-heavy API clients consuming system resources.
• Multi-Device Workers: Developers who work across different machines and want consistent access without installation.
• GraphQL Developers: The excellent GraphQL support makes it ideal for teams working with GraphQL APIs.
• Quick Testing: Perfect for rapid API testing without launching heavy applications.

Hoppscotch may not be ideal for:

• Enterprise Teams: Large organizations needing extensive team management and compliance features.
• Heavy Postman Users: Teams deeply invested in Postman’s ecosystem and workflows.
• Complex Automation: Projects requiring extensive scripting and test automation capabilities.
• Offline-First: Users frequently working without internet access.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Hoppscotch handle CORS issues?

Browser-based tools face CORS restrictions when APIs don’t include proper headers. Hoppscotch offers several solutions: a browser extension that bypasses CORS, a proxy server for routing requests, and the desktop app which isn’t subject to browser restrictions. For development, APIs should include appropriate CORS headers. The self-hosted version can be configured with a proxy for unrestricted access.

Is Hoppscotch really free?

Yes, Hoppscotch is completely free under the MIT open-source license. The web version at hoppscotch.io is free to use with all features. Self-hosting is free with no license restrictions. There’s no freemium model or feature gating. The project is supported by community contributions and sponsorships rather than paid tiers.

Can I import my Postman collections?

Yes, Hoppscotch supports importing collections from Postman, Insomnia, and OpenAPI/Swagger specifications. Export your Postman collection as JSON and import it into Hoppscotch. Most requests, environments, and basic scripts transfer correctly. Complex Postman scripts may need adjustment for Hoppscotch’s scripting environment.

How do I collaborate with my team?

Hoppscotch offers team workspaces through the cloud version or self-hosted deployment. Create a team, invite members, and share collections and environments. Changes synchronize in real-time across team members. For simple sharing without accounts, export collections as files and share directly.

Does Hoppscotch work offline?

The PWA installation provides some offline capability—the interface loads and you can access cached data. However, actual API requests obviously require network connectivity. For fully offline work, the desktop application provides better offline support with local storage of collections and history.

Final Verdict

Hoppscotch proves that API development tools don’t need to be resource-hungry desktop applications. The browser-first approach delivers remarkable speed and accessibility without sacrificing essential functionality. For developers tired of watching Postman consume gigabytes of RAM, Hoppscotch offers a refreshing alternative that respects system resources while providing professional capabilities.

The open-source nature extends beyond licensing—it represents a philosophy of transparency, community ownership, and freedom from vendor lock-in. Self-hosting options address enterprise security requirements while the cloud version provides zero-friction access for individual developers.

While Postman’s extensive ecosystem and enterprise features maintain its position for large organizations, Hoppscotch has earned its place as the preferred tool for developers who value speed, simplicity, and open-source principles. The continuous improvement driven by community contributions ensures Hoppscotch will remain relevant as API development practices evolve. For most API testing needs, Hoppscotch delivers everything necessary in a package that’s genuinely enjoyable to use.