HTTPie

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2012
Developer: HTTPie
Pricing: Freemium
Open source: Yes
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, Web

Indexes

API Testing

Overview

HTTPie is a command-line HTTP client and cross-platform API testing tool designed for testing, debugging, and interacting with APIs and HTTP servers. It offers versions including a terminal CLI, desktop app for Mac, Windows, and Linux, and a web app with AI-assisted request generation. The tool targets developers working with REST, GraphQL, and HTTP APIs, emphasizing intuitive syntax, formatted output, and features like JSON support and sessions.¹²⁴⁵⁸

Key Features

Expressive syntax - Simple and natural syntax for creating HTTP requests using `http` and `https` commands.
Formatted output - Colorized and formatted terminal output for responses.
Built-in JSON support - Automatic JSON handling for requests and responses.
Authentication and proxies - Support for HTTPS, proxies, and various authentication methods.
File uploads and forms - Capabilities for sending forms and file uploads.
Persistent sessions - Maintains sessions across multiple requests.
Custom methods and headers - Arbitrary HTTP methods, headers, and request data.
AI request generation - Web app feature generates requests from natural language prompts.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	Free	Core CLI (open-source), basic desktop and web features.
Pro	Paid (details on site)	Advanced features like AI assistant, extended sessions, and priority support.

Platforms & Requirements

Desktop app runs on macOS (Intel/Apple Silicon), Windows, and Linux (AppImage requiring AppImageLauncher). Web app accessible via browser. CLI supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and FreeBSD with no specific minimum requirements noted.²⁵⁷

Integrations & Ecosystem

HTTPS
Proxies
Authentication (Basic, Digest, Bearer)
JSON
Forms
File uploads
Sessions

Alternatives

App	Difference
Postman	Graphical interface with team collaboration; less focus on CLI simplicity.
Insomnia	Desktop-first with GraphQL support; open-source core but freemium model.
curl	Standard CLI tool; lacks user-friendly syntax and colorized output.
Paw (now RapidAPI for Mac)	Mac-only native app; more visual but platform-limited.

Reputation

HTTPie is praised for its human-friendly CLI syntax, colorized output, and ease in API testing and debugging among developers. The desktop and web versions extend accessibility but receive notes on beta status and Linux setup requirements like AppImageLauncher. It maintains a strong open-source community presence since 2012 with ongoing updates.²³⁵

Sources (10)