Postman is a widely used API development and testing platform. It lets you create and share API requests and collections, automate tests, mock APIs, and monitor performance. As of March 1, 2026, the Postman free plan is limited to a single user and 25 collection runs per month—so small teams either pay Postman pricing ($14/user for Team) or look for a free Postman alternative like Apidog. This article is a short Postman tutorial plus a look at how Apidog compares as a better Postman alternative with up to 4 users and unlimited runs on the free plan.
Pro tip: The Postman free plan is now 1 user only. Need free collaboration for 2–4 people and unlimited test runs? Try Apidog—up to 4 users, unlimited test runs, and full API design, mock, and docs at $0. Sign up free (no credit card); import Postman collections and switch in minutes.
What is Postman Used for?
Postman is an application for testing, documenting, and sharing APIs. Developers use it to send requests, view responses, and debug issues through a single interface. The Postman free plan gives you the core client but with Postman free plan limitations: 1 user only and 25 collection runs per month (from March 2026). For a Postman alternative with more free features—such as unlimited runs, 4 users free, robust mocking, and auto-generated docs—Apidog is a strong option. Apidog is an all-in-one workspace for API design, mocking, testing, debugging, and documentation. G2 has also recognized Apidog as a top Postman alternative.
Feature Comparison Between Apidog vs Postman
| Feature | Postman | Apidog |
|---|---|---|
| API Designing | Design APIs visually. Define and reuse schemas, generate spec from request, recognize JSON/XML/SQL to schema. | Design APIs visually. Define and reuse schemas, generate spec from request, recognize JSON/XML/SQL to schema. |
| API Debugging | Pre/Post-request scripts. Response validation, connect to databases. | Pre/Post-request scripts. Response validation, connect to databases. |
| API Testing | CI/CD. Run collections: 25/month (free). Online test report, add assertions visually. | CI/CD. Run collections: Unlimited. Online test report, add assertions visually. |
| API Documentation | Custom domain, custom layout, Markdown pages, automatic generation, sync update. | Custom domain, custom layout, Markdown pages, automatic generation, sync update. |
| API Mock | Fixed response mocking. Smart mock engine, cloud mock server, customized scripts, mock for load testing. | Fixed response mocking. Smart mock engine, cloud mock server, customized scripts, mock for load testing. |
| Collaboration | Free for 1 user only (Mar 2026) | Free for 4 users |
Postman free plan limitations (1 user, 25 runs) make Apidog a better Postman alternative for teams that want free collaboration and unlimited test runs.
The Main Features of Postman
1. API Designing
Postman provides a visual editor to design APIs: create endpoints, set parameters, request/response payloads, and auth. You can document APIs with descriptions so others can understand and use them.
2. API Debugging
Pre- and post-request scripts let you customize requests and automate tasks. Pre-request scripts can set variables, headers, and parameters; post-request scripts can act on responses. This helps streamline workflow and fix API issues quickly.
3. API Testing
Postman supports automated testing and CI/CD so you can test at every stage. It offers unit, integration, and load tests. On the Postman free plan you are limited to 25 collection runs per month; paid plans offer more.
Postman Plans and Pricing (2026)
Postman offers free and paid plans. From March 1, 2026:
- Free: 1 user only, 25 collection runs per month, essential client features, limited mock and workspaces. No free team collaboration.
- Basic (Team): $14/user/month (annual)—full collaboration, 10K mock/monitor requests, 30-day recovery.
- Professional: $29/user/month (annual)—RBAC, more private APIs, 90-day recovery.
- Enterprise: $49/user/month (annual)—SSO, governance, audit, enterprise support.
So Postman pricing for any team use starts at $14 per user per month. For Postman free plan users with 2+ people, Postman is dead for small teams with more than 1 user on the free tier—you need a free Postman alternative like Apidog (4 users, unlimited runs) or a paid Postman plan.
| Plans | Free | Basic | Professional | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $14/user/month | $29/user/month | $49/user/month |
| Notes | 1 user, 25 runs/month | Full team collaboration | RBAC, more APIs | SSO, governance, scale |
Drawbacks of Postman
- Learning curve: It can take time to use Postman effectively, especially for beginners.
- Postman free plan limitations: The free plan allows 1 user only and 25 collection runs per month (March 2026). No free team collaboration; advanced features and more runs require a paid plan.
- Dependence on a third-party tool: Relying heavily on Postman may reduce hands-on familiarity with APIs and other tools.
For teams that need free collaboration and unlimited runs, Apidog is one of the best free Postman alternatives.
The Main Features of Apidog
1. API Designing
Apidog’s visual editor supports schemas for requests and responses and recognizes JSON, XML, and SQL. You can define and reuse OpenAPI-compliant schemas and generate response examples with one click.
2. API Debugging
Send HTTP requests during design; request parameters can be generated from dynamic values. Responses are checked against the API definition. Database connections help debug persistence and retrieval.
3. API Testing
CI/CD runs tests through the development cycle. Visual assertions simplify validation; online test reports give clear visibility. Unlimited test/collection runs—no 25-run Postman free plan cap.
4. API Documentation
Docs and mock data are generated automatically. Custom domains and layouts improve accessibility; Markdown keeps docs maintainable.
5. API Mock
Apidog’s smart mock engine and cloud mock server produce realistic responses for testing and prototyping.
6. Additional Features
- IDEA Plugin: IDEA plugin for creating, testing, and debugging APIs inside the IDE.
- Collaboration: Up to 4 users free—no 1-user Postman free plan limit. Real-time collaboration for teams.
- Apidog MCP Server: Bring API specs into Cursor/VS Code so AI assistants can use them for code generation and scaffolding.
- Apidog AI features: AI-assisted schema edits, naming, compliance checks, and test-case generation.
Many developers start with testing APIs using Postman; Apidog offers a better Postman alternative with more features on the free plan (4 users, unlimited runs).
How to Test API with Apidog Step-by-Step
Step 1. Sign up for a free Apidog Account
Go to the Apidog website and sign up for a free account.
Step 2. Create a New Project
Click on the "+New Project" on the right and give your project a name and description.
Step 3. Add Your API
Click on the "New Endpoint" to create a new API by entering the endpoint URL and specifying the details.
Step 4. Create a New Test Scenario
In the Testing panel, click "+New Test Scenario", then provide a name and description for the test. Click "Continue" to proceed with designing the test scenario.
Step 5. Run Your Test
When finishing designing the test scenario, click on "Run" to run your test. Apidog will send requests to your API and run your test script to check for errors.
Step 6. View Your Test Results
After your test has finished, click on the "Results" tab to view your test results. You can see which tests passed and failed and view detailed logs of each test run.
That's it! Now that you have finished the API testing and got the test result, it is time to discover what's wrong and fix the issue immediately.
Pro tip: You can configure "Scheduled Tasks" to automatically run predefined automated test scenarios at specified times. This allows you to obtain task execution results and meet scheduled testing and regression requirements.
Conclusion
Postman is a solid API testing tool, but the Postman free plan is now 1 user only and 25 collection runs per month (March 2026). Postman free plan limitations and Postman pricing ($14+ per user for teams) make Apidog a better Postman alternative for many teams: up to 4 users, unlimited test runs, design, mock, docs, and collaboration on the free plan.
