DEV Community

Cover image for Best Postman Alternative for VSCode: EchoAPI for VS Code | Free & Ultra-Lightweight
Watson Kristin
Watson Kristin

Posted on

Best Postman Alternative for VSCode: EchoAPI for VS Code | Free & Ultra-Lightweight

When it comes to API development, modern devs prefer doing everything in their code editor to avoid switching tools. In VSCode, you’ve got plenty of API testing extensions, but two popular options are Postman for VSCode and EchoAPI for VSCode. This article compares them to help you pick the right one for your needs.

The Best Postman Alternative for VSCode: EchoAPI

Feature Comparison

Feature EchoAPI for VSCode Postman for VSCode
Price Free Paid
Offline Usage Yes No, requires login
Ease of Use Simple Complex
Lightweight Yes Yes
Environment Management Yes Yes

Comparison Analysis

Price

EchoAPI for VSCode: It’s completely free, perfect for individuals and small teams.

Postman for VSCode: Needs a Postman account, and some features might require a subscription.

Offline Usage

EchoAPI for VSCode: Works fully offline, so you don’t have to log in to use it.

Postman for VSCode: Requires you to log in, so no offline usage.

Ease of Use

EchoAPI for VSCode: Very user-friendly, great for beginners and pros alike.

Postman for VSCode: More complex, which can mean a steeper learning curve.

Lightweight

Both extensions are lightweight and won’t slow down your VSCode, making them great for keeping your IDE responsive.

Environment Management

Both tools allow easy management of variables across different environments, crucial for API testing.

Conclusion

EchoAPI for VSCode

EchoAPI for VSCode shines as a great alternative to Postman, especially if you want a free tool that works offline. It integrates well with VSCode and offers straightforward interactions, making it ideal for developers who want to keep everything in one place. While Postman has some advanced features, EchoAPI covers the basics exceptionally well, plus it doesn't require login—making it hassle-free.

I hope this comparison helps you choose the best API client plugin to streamline your development workflow. Happy coding!

Top comments (0)