Postman
by Postman, Inc. · API Management
API platform covering design, testing, mock servers, monitoring and governance.
Updated August 2026 · By the ERP Research Editorial Team · Independent and vendor-neutral.
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Company size
- SMB, Mid-market, Enterprise
- Pricing
- Freemium, per-user monthly subscription
- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California, United States
Overview
Postman began as a browser-based HTTP client for testing APIs and has grown into a full API platform used by teams to design, build, test, document, monitor and govern APIs across their lifecycle. Core tooling includes the API Client for sending requests, Collections for organizing and automating API workflows, Mock Servers for simulating API behavior before backend code exists, and Monitors for scheduled checks of API uptime and performance.
On top of the request-and-test tooling, Postman markets a management and governance layer aimed at organizations running many APIs: an API Catalog that gives visibility into an organization's full API landscape, governance and security checks that can run throughout the API lifecycle, and Insights for tracking endpoint-level usage metrics. This governance and monitoring surface is what places Postman alongside dedicated API management platforms, in addition to its long-standing use as a request-testing and collaboration tool for individual developers.
Postman integrates with common software delivery and observability tools including GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, CircleCI, AWS, Azure, Datadog and New Relic, and supports the private, partner and public APIs an organization publishes.
Screenshots & demo
Screenshots sourced from Postman, Inc..
Features & capabilities
API Design and Build
Tooling for defining and iterating on API specifications.
- Spec Hub for managing API specifications
- Workspaces for team collaboration
- Mock Servers to simulate API behavior before the backend exists
- SDK Generator for producing client SDKs
- Postman Flows for visual workflow creation
Testing and Validation
Request execution, automated testing and scheduled checks.
- API Client for sending and inspecting requests
- Collection Runner for automating API test workflows
- Monitors for scheduled performance and uptime validation
- Webhook support
- Data-driven testing exports (paid tiers)
Governance and Management
Visibility and controls across an organization's full API landscape.
- API Catalog providing visibility into all published APIs
- Governance and security checks executable across the API lifecycle
- Insights for tracking endpoint-level usage metrics
- Advanced role-based access control (Enterprise)
- Audit logging (Enterprise)
- Private test runners (Enterprise)
Collaboration and AI
Team workflows and AI-assisted API development.
- Shared workspaces and commenting
- Custom-branded API documentation
- AI Engineer and Agent Mode for AI-assisted workflows
- Postman CLI for command-line access
- MCP Server integration for connecting APIs to AI agents
Common use cases
- Designing and testing REST, GraphQL and other APIs during development
- Mocking an API before its backend implementation is complete
- Automating API test suites as part of a CI/CD pipeline
- Monitoring published APIs for uptime and performance degradation
- Giving an organization a single catalog of every API it has published, internal and external
- Enforcing governance and security checks across many teams publishing APIs
- Documenting private, partner and public APIs for external developer consumption
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- Very large installed base, with the vendor citing 500,000 companies and 98% of the Fortune 500 as users
- Combines request-level API testing tooling with organization-wide API governance and cataloging in one platform
- AI Engineer, Agent Mode and MCP Server integration for connecting APIs to AI agent workflows
- Broad tooling ecosystem covering design, mocking, testing, monitoring and documentation in a single product
Considerations
- Primarily a management, testing and governance layer for APIs an organization already exposes, rather than a standalone API gateway product like Kong, Apigee or WSO2 API Manager
Pricing
Team is $19/user/month and Enterprise is $49/user/month, both billed annually. Enterprise adds the API Catalog, unlimited private workspaces, advanced RBAC, governance tooling and audit logging, plus custom terms and dedicated support. Each tier includes a monthly pool of AI credits. Get an independent shortlist with pricing guidance below.
About the vendor
- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California, United States
- Employees
- 501-1,000
- Ownership
- Private (venture-backed; Series D led by Insight Partners)
Alternatives to Postman in API Management
Postman — frequently asked questions
Is Postman just an API testing tool or a full API management platform?
Postman started as a request-testing client but now markets a fuller API platform, adding an API Catalog, governance and security checks, and usage Insights across an organization's published APIs, in addition to its original design, mock, and test tooling.
Does Postman have a free plan?
Yes. Postman offers a free tier covering the API client, core testing tools, mock servers, native Git integration and unlimited collection runner performance tests, with paid plans starting at $9 per user per month for additional features.
What does Postman integrate with?
Postman integrates with development and operations tools including GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, CircleCI, AWS, Azure, Datadog and New Relic.
How many organizations use Postman?
Postman states that 500,000 companies use the platform, including 98% of the Fortune 500.
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