API stands for Application Programming Interface. API testing is a kind of software testing that checks the working, performance, and security of all the APIs. API helps in communicating and exchanging data from one software system to another. API serves as a middle layer between the User Interface and the Database. API testing is more effective compared to UI testing and consumes less time. There is no need for any UI to take this test. These tests are easy to conduct and provide accurate results. It can be either done manually or automatically. The following is a list of the top 10 best API tools.
1. Katalon Studio
Katalon Studio is the most popular API testing tool. It offers features like auto-completion, auto-formatting, and code inspection. It provides pre-built and customizable code templates. It offers keyword-driven testing, page object model testing, data-driven testing, and TDD/BDD testing. It supports CI/CD integration. It comes with a free version. The premium version cost starts from $25 per month.
2. ACCELQ
ACCELQ is a cloud-based API testing tool. It includes API test case management, test planning, execution, and tracking governance. It provides testing of both APIs and UI elements. It executes testing with complete visibility and defect-tracking integrations. It supports CI/CD and Jira/ALM integrations. It has a 14-day free trial. The paid version starts from $150 per user per month.
3. Postman
Postman is an API testing tool for Windows, Google, Linux, and Mac. It provides automated testing, exploratory testing, and data-driven testing. It enables running requests, testing, and debugging, creating automated tests, and monitoring API. It includes built-in testing tools and workspaces. It allows an easy way to mock the API. It supports integration into CI/CD pipelines. It has a free version. The premium version has three plans $12, $29, and $99 per user-month.
4. ReadyAPI
ReadyAPI is an API testing tool by SmartBear. It includes drag-and-drop and point-and-click features for the easy creation of test cases and a reusable script feature for reusing load test cases and security scans. It enables parallel execution of functional tests and job queuing. It provides data-driven tests like API functional testing, API performance testing, API security testing, and API & Web virtualization. It supports CI/CD integrations. It has a 14-day free trial. The paid version starts from $895 per license.
5. REST Assured
REST Assured is an open-source API testing tool. It has built-in functionalities that help users not create test cases from scratch. It supports behavior-driven development (BDD) that facilitates API testing in Java language. The users do not have to be HTTP experts to use this testing tool. It easily integrates with the Serenity automation framework. It has a free version.
6. SoapUI
SoapUI is an open-source API testing tool by SmartBear. It includes an array of advanced tools. It provides functional API testing, load testing, security testing, regression testing, and API mocking. It also includes vulnerability scanning techniques for security testing. It runs tests at a tremendous scale and in parallel. It has a free version. The paid version starts from $759 per license.
7. Hoppscotch
Hoppscotch is an open-source API testing tool. It acts as an alternative to Postman. It lets you write test scripts with minimal distraction that help generate API requests quickly. It supports data transmission and receiving using the SocketIQ server. It has a Collections feature that allows testers to group and save all the HTTP requests belonging to a single API endpoint together in an organized manner. It has a free version.
8. Apache JMeter
Apache JMeter is an open-source API testing tool. It supports various programming languages. It provides functional, load, and performance testing. It includes plugin-based architecture and command-line mode. It lets you offline replay test results so you can find breaking points in your systems. It enables scaling of tests and rerunning existing scripts. It easily integrates with CI/CD pipelines. It supports cross-platform for free of cost.
9. Karate DSL
Karate DSL is an open-source API testing tool. It is a BDD tool that has all the common scenarios ready for you without writing the definition steps. It allows a tester to test web services by writing tests in a domain-specific language. It supports parallel execution of tests. It provides performance testing and UI testing. It includes redesigned HTML reports, single-call caching, and tree walking. It has a free version.
10. Apigee Edge
Apigee Edge is a cross-cloud API tool. It lets you design, secure, analyze, and scale APIs anywhere. It includes a customizable developer portal, API analytics, Web service callouts, and distributed traffic management. It also offers advanced features like Apigee Sense advanced security. It provides scaling API, analyzing API, and API authentication and monetization. It is best for API development. It has a free version. The pricing details of the premium version are available upon request.
