API testing tools are software solutions that help QA testers, API designers, and developers check if APIs are working as expected. They test performance, security, and functionality to ensure smooth communication between software systems. These tools work by sending requests and validating responses. Let's take a look at the best ones out there.
1. Digital API: AI-powered API testing tool for developers and QA engineers
Are you a developer or QA engineer looking for a powerful and intuitive API testing platform? If so, then DigitalAPI is built for you.
This platform simplifies API testing by combining automation, AI-powered insights, and seamless CI/CD integration, helping teams deliver high-quality APIs faster. Unlike traditional tools that require heavy scripting, DigitalAPI automates test creation while providing real-time analytics to catch issues early.
With support for Jenkins, GitHub Actions, JIRA, and Slack, it fits smoothly into your existing workflow. Whether you're running regression tests, security checks, or performance validations, DigitalAPICraft ensures your APIs are reliable, secure, and production-ready without slowing down development.
Its intuitive interface and robust features empower teams to design, test, and deploy APIs with confidence and speed.
The platform's flexibility caters to various industries, including banking, healthcare, and telecom, providing pre-built industry-specific core APIs and a comprehensive catalogue of internal services like REST APIs, GraphQL, and SOAP. Moreover, DAC's multi-tenant testing environment ensures secure and scalable testing and deployment of solutions.
Digital API API testing features
- Automated API testing: Digital API supports automated testing, which allows developers to validate APIs efficiently, reduce manual effort, and accelerate the development cycle.
- AI-powered test generation: The platform uses artificial intelligence to facilitate intelligent test case generation. This ensures comprehensive coverage while identifying potential issues early in the development process.
- Real-time analytics: The platform offers real-time analytics, providing insights into API performance and usage. This is to enable teams to make informed decisions and optimise their APIs effectively.
- CI/CD pipeline support: Digital API seamlessly integrates with continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. It also supports tools like Jenkins and GitHub Actions for smooth and automated API deployments.
Advantages of DigitalAPICraft API Testing
- Offers an all-in-one solution for API management, testing, and deployment
- The platform’s AI-generated tests reduce manual effort and speed up API deployment
- Its robust testing environment ensures the reliability and quality of APIs through thorough validation and testing
- DAC provides real-time analytics to prevent last-minute surprises
- It also integrates with JIRA and Slack to enable easy collaboration and streamlined teamwork
Limitations of DigitalAPICraft API Testing
- New users might require time to familiarise themselves with the platform's extensive features.
- Integrating DAC with existing systems may require additional configuration and setup.
Pricing
DigitalAPICraft offers two pricing plans. Free Plan and Pro Plan. Contact support for a quote.
2. Postman: General API testing and collaboration tool
Postman is an API testing platform tailored for developers, testers, and DevOps teams. It offers an intuitive, user-friendly GUI for designing, debugging, and automating API tests. The platform streamlines the entire API lifecycle, from development and collaboration to documentation and monitoring.
With this tool, you can simulate endpoints using API mocking, run automated test scripts, and integrate with tools like Jenkins, GitHub, GitLab, JIRA, and Swagger. Whether you're debugging a single endpoint or running complex test suites, Postman simplifies workflows and enhances productivity by turning repetitive tasks into efficient automated processes.
Key API testing features
- Scripted testing: Postman allows developers to write test scripts in JavaScript and validate API responses using built-in libraries.
- API mocking: You can simulate endpoints and test responses before backend implementation to speed up front-end API development.
- Collaboration and monitoring: The platform enables you to share results with other teams, monitor API performance in real time, and troubleshoot issues faster.
Advantages of Postman API testing
- Has a clean, user-friendly interface that makes setting up tests easy and fast
- You don’t need coding experience to run basic API requests
- The platform supports collaboration and version control with team workspaces
- It integrates with Jenkins, GitHub, JIRA, and other tech stacks
Limitations of Postman API testing
- The platform offers limited advanced testing capabilities in its free plan
- Postman can be memory-intensive when executing large API tests
- Its advanced features have a steep learning curve
Pricing
Postman offers a free plan with basic features, while paid plans start at $14/user/month (billed annually).
3. Katalon: No-code/Low-code API testing platform for QA engineers and developers
Katalon is another API testing platform tailored for both QA engineers and developers. With its no-code/low-code interface, it streamlines test creation and execution for all API types, including REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and more.
With it, teams can test APIs alongside web and mobile apps in one workspace, reducing tool-switching and enhancing test coverage. The platform’s built-in reporting and seamless integration with Jenkins, JIRA, Docker, and other CI/CD tools help teams detect bugs early and release with confidence. Whether you're building new tests or maintaining existing ones, Katalon makes it easy to scale API testing without needing deep programming expertise.
Key features
- No-code/low-code testing: You can use the tool to design, automate, and execute API tests without writing complex scripts.
- Cross-platform testing: Katalon enables teams to run tests across API, web, and mobile channels in a single environment.
- Built-in reporting and analytics: The tool delivers real-time test results, logs, and detailed reports to allow you to track performance and debug faster.
Advantages of Katalon API testing
- It’s easy to use for both beginners and experts alike
- Katalon supports end-to-end testing (API, UI, mobile)
- The tool offers built-in analytics and reporting for faster debugging
- It integrates with popular platforms like JIRA, Git, and others for streamlined API testing
Limitations of Katalon API testing
- The tool has a steep learning curve for complex API testing
- Its performance testing features are basic
- Katalon can be resource-intensive for large test suites
Pricing
Katalon offers a free plan with basic features, while paid plans start at $84/user/month (billed annually).
4. SoapUI: API testing tool for SOAP and advanced REST testing
SoapUI is a functional and load testing tool designed for REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs. The platform is ideal for API testers and developers who want a simple solution for API validation, automation, and performance testing.
With it, you can check API functionality, run data-driven tests, or integrate with CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Maven, and JIRA to streamline the API testing process. Besides, its Groovy scripting support allows for advanced test customisation, while built-in reporting helps teams quickly identify issues.
From simple manual tests to complex automated workflows, SoapUI ensures APIs are reliable, scalable, and bug-free before deployment.
Key features
- Data-driven testing: With SoapUI, you can feed large datasets into your tests using Excel or databases to simulate real-world scenarios effortlessly.
- Advanced scripting with Groovy: Teams can write custom logic to extend test capabilities, manage test flows, and manipulate data dynamically.
- Strong integration support: You can easily integrate the tool with CI/CD pipelines through Jenkins, Maven, and Docker, and link directly to JIRA for issue tracking.
- Comprehensive API testing: It supports SOAP, REST, and GraphQL with advanced validation, mocking, and security scans.
Advantages of SoapUI API testing
- SoapUI supports functional and load testing for REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs
- The tool enables sophisticated testing with Groovy scripting
- It offers strong integrations with CI/CD tools and project management platforms
- It also provides a user-friendly GUI for faster test creation and debugging
Limitations of SoapUI API testing
- The tool has a steep learning curve for beginner testers, especially during complex scripting.
- It has a limited modern UI design compared to other API testing tools
- SoapUI can be resource-intensive during large-scale load testing
Pricing
SoapUI offers two versions: the open-source SoapUI for basic needs and ReadyAPI (paid) for advanced features. Pricing for ReadyAPI starts at $895/year per user, with additional enterprise plans available.
5. Pynt: Automated API security testing for security engineers and DevSecOps
Pynt offers an automated API security testing tool for security engineers and DevSecOps teams who need to secure APIs without slowing down development. Unlike traditional scanners, Pynt integrates seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines, running zero-config security scans to detect vulnerabilities like those in the OWASP Top 10.
It works by analysing API traffic in real-time, automatically generating and executing security tests—no manual setup required. With native integrations into Slack and JIRA, teams get instant alerts and can remediate risks faster.
Key features
- Zero-config automated scanning: Pynt detects API endpoints and tests them automatically. Simply plug the tool into your existing testing workflows without the need for additional scripting or configurations.
- OWASP top 10 coverage. The tool can automatically scan for the most critical API vulnerabilities, including injection flaws, broken authentication, and more.
- CI/CD integration: Teams can easily embed Pynt into their CI/CD pipelines to catch security issues during development, with alerts sent to Slack or JIRA for quick action.
Advantages of Pynt API testing
- You don’t need manual test writing or security expertise to run API tests
- The tool can catch vulnerabilities early in the development cycle
- It offers automated security scans to save time
- Pynt offers real-time alerts via Slack and JIRA for quick fixes
- Limitations of Pynt API testing
- The tool has limited customisation capabilities for advanced testing scenarios.
- It currently focuses mainly on OWASP Top 10 issues
- It is limited to API security (not a full application scanner)
Pricing
Pynt offers a free trial, with paid plans based on usage and scale (exact pricing available upon request).
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