Whether you want to test the functionality of an API, assess its runtime behavior, or validate its security, automated API testing tools let you handle the technical details without writing boring code. They can even be useful if you’re not a programmer but want to test an API before recommending it to your programming team.

Here is a list of some of the best API testing tools.

Postman combines the speed of light with top-notch performance to synchronize with the behavior of API requests. It allows you to modify and customize your request headers, manage SSL and domain-specific cookies.

Featuring a simple and elegant user interface and experience, it allows you to easily debug and display the response information in a graphically appealing environment. That said, you can also generate reusable query source code in various programming languages.

In addition to offering a GraphQL data loader, Postman has query capability for APIs designed using SOAP or REST architectural protocol. And with versatile API schemas like RAML, WADL, and OpenAPI, you can view detailed information about the architecture of an API.

Advanced REST Client is a simple open source API testing tool. You can use it as a Chrome plug-in or download and install a desktop version.

When you install the Chrome plug-in, it automatically installs a virtual desktop application that does not install directly on your PC. The plugin version has some limitations, however.

But you get access to more features when you download and install the desktop app right from their website. In addition to the friendly user interface, you can configure custom request environment variables on the desktop app. Moreover, it gives you access to test code snippets in different programming languages.

Although you can view the response time, the app does not yet include the capabilities of GraphQL or protocol buffering. Thus, you cannot view the advanced performance diagrams of an API with the app.

RapidAPI is a versatile web API manager that offers a responsive API testing tool designed for developers and non-coders. Thus, it offers code-based, automated, and GUI options for API testing.

It has a dynamic and comprehensive test environment that allows you to evaluate standard API metrics such as security, performance, functionality, etc.

RapidAPI supports evaluation of SOAP, REST, and GraphQL based APIs. With detailed analyzes, you can track information about failed and successful tests and log comprehensive execution reports as you test.

Here is another free web API tester with a simple user interface. Besides providing test logs and response time, it has an API debugger. It comes at a price, however.

REQBIN also supports SOAP and REST-based APIs, and you can generate automated code to test your APIs in various programming languages, including PHP, Python, Java, and C #.

Related: What Is REST API and How Can You Retrieve Data for Your App or Website?

In addition to providing a load tester, the app allows you to compare response times between geographic regions. So while you can debug or assess lags in an API, it’s a good choice for testing region-specific APIs.

ReadyAPI is a microservices and API testing tool from SmartBear. It contains an environment conducive to complex validation of APIs built around multiple architectural frameworks, including REST, SOAP, and GraphQL.

ReadyAPI is easy to integrate into an application’s production pipeline, so it’s a valuable tool to consider if you’re running a DevOps-dependent ecosystem.

Although it does complete and revised quality checks, considering the cost after a 30-day free trial, ReadyAPI might not be a suitable choice for individuals or small businesses in the long run.

The app, however, explicitly defines sections for performance, safety, and load testing. The user interface can be a bit clunky and complex, however. But you will find the navigation easy in a short time of use.

Swagger Inspector is a minimalist and superficial API Examiner. This is another solution from SmartBear.

Swagger Inspector has a simple user interface and an experience that adapts to an API’s response time, allowing you to gauge its speed in real time.

While the web app lets you run tests on multiple API architectures, it doesn’t offer as many features as other standard testers. So while you can test a few metrics like security, you might not validate advanced patterns like detailed performance logs.

Despite this, it’s worth a try if yours is a straightforward test that doesn’t involve evaluating complete details other than response status and validation of response data.

Paw is a solid API tester designed for Mac users. While this is a valuable tool, its obvious limitation is that it is not cross-platform.

In addition to its visually appealing user interface, Paw is a comprehensive tool that gives you access to many standard testing features including functional checks, performance review, safety validation, and more. when you purchase the app for $ 49.99.

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If you’re building an API from scratch, it’s easy to integrate Paw’s testing tool into your development pipeline. While it’s only available on a monthly subscription basis, you can share test updates with team members as you scale your API.

Fiddler is more than an API testing tool. It offers a wide range of features for debugging and testing web requests and API calls.

While the tool is versatile, you can access its API testing attribute in its Fiddler Everywhere plan. While it might be a little scary, it does offer real-time traffic sync and monitoring for HTTPS requests made on your browsers. However, this doesn’t seem like an essential feature when testing an API.

Nonetheless, the app offers advanced API testing capabilities to assess security, speed, performance, and structural functionality. You can share test updates between teams and generate automated API tests for built-in APIs.

While you might find it a bit pricey, the $ 10 monthly subscription is worth an investment considering its features.

Despite its versatility and value, Assertible is a free web-based API testing tool. So you can start testing APIs right away without needing to download and install separate desktop apps.

While this is the last on the list, it by no means puts it at the bottom of the list of best API testing tools. Using the web application dashboard, you can visually monitor pass and fail tests.

Additionally, you can create assertions, define query variables, and delete existing queries. Assertible also allows you to schedule your API tests if you wish. It’s a great tool for automating testing because an API adapts to features.

Ultimately, thanks to its ability to sync with messaging apps and virtual communication tools like Slack and PagerDuty, you can choose to receive notifications if tests fail.

Automate API testing without writing code

API testing can be time consuming when choosing a third-party API or writing your API from scratch. With out-of-the-box testing tools, you can quickly analyze an API for anomalies before integration instead of writing separate scripts to evaluate it.

That said, the apps featured in this list are all GUI API testing tools that make sure you don’t get your hands dirty with the code. Plus, they offer a quick assessment to test essential aspects of an API.

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