Hoppscotch is a free, open-source alternative to Postman that runs in your browser. Send HTTP requests, test APIs, and organize your work — no account required to start.
Hoppscotch runs entirely in your browser — nothing to download or install. Just open the URL and you land directly in the API testing interface. It looks similar to Postman but loads instantly.
You will use a free public API to confirm everything works. This API returns a random joke as JSON — a safe, no-auth-required endpoint. Paste the URL into the address bar, make sure the method is set to GET, then click Send. The response appears in the panel below.
Response panel stays empty or shows a CORS error
Click the shield/proxy icon in the top-right toolbar and enable the Hoppscotch proxy. This routes your request through their server and fixes most CORS and HTTP-only endpoint issues.
Most real APIs require an API key or a Bearer token. Click the 'Headers' tab below the URL bar to add key-value pairs, or click the 'Authorization' tab to pick a type (None, Basic, Bearer Token, OAuth 2.0) and fill in your credentials. Hoppscotch sends them automatically with every request.
You are not sure where to get a Bearer token
Check the API's own documentation — it is usually under 'Authentication' or 'Getting Started'. Many APIs let you generate a free token on their dashboard.
Collections keep your requests organized, just like folders on your desktop. Click the save icon (floppy disk) next to the Send button, give the request a name, then create a new Collection to put it in. You can build unlimited collections and nest folders inside them. Collections are saved locally in your browser — no account needed.
Collections disappear after clearing browser data
Sign up for a free Hoppscotch account and sign in. Your collections then sync to the cloud and survive browser clears.
If your base URL or API key appears in many requests, store it once as a variable. Click the Environments icon (looks like a leaf) in the left sidebar, create a new environment, and add a variable like 'base_url' with the value of your API's root URL. Then in any request URL, type {{base_url}} and Hoppscotch replaces it automatically.
{{base_url}} is not replaced and the request fails
Make sure the correct environment is selected. Click the environment dropdown in the top-right corner of the app and choose the environment you just created.
If you prefer a standalone app instead of a browser tab, Hoppscotch offers a desktop download for Windows, Mac, and Linux. For automation or scripting, there is also a CLI. Both are optional — the web version does everything described above.
npx command not found
You need Node.js installed first. Download it from https://nodejs.org — choose the LTS version and run the installer. Then retry the npx command.
A fully working API testing workspace in your browser. You can send GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and other requests; add headers and auth tokens; organize requests into collections; and reuse values with environment variables — all for free, with no installation.
Hoppscotch is excellent for manual API testing and beats Postman for simplicity. However, the free web version stores data only in your browser — clear your cache and your unsaved work is gone. Team collaboration, SSO, and self-hosting require either a free cloud account or setting up the self-hosted version (which does require Docker and developer knowledge). The CLI is powerful but not beginner-friendly without reading the docs. This guide covers the zero-install web workflow only.