HTTPie

Name: HTTPie
Brand: HTTPie

A user-friendly HTTP client for testing and exploring APIs, available as CLI, Desktop, and web app.

softwareAPI Toolsapi-clientcli-toolopen-source

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Our Verdict

Best for

Developers who want a simple, readable CLI or desktop tool for everyday HTTP API testing.

Skip if

You need advanced team collaboration or enterprise API governance features.

What is HTTPie?

HTTPie is an API testing client built around simplicity, offering an open-source command-line tool alongside a Desktop application currently in public beta. The CLI is installable through common package managers including apt, brew, pip, snap, and choco, and has built up a large open-source community with nearly 48,000 GitHub stars.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App

open source✅ Yes

key integrationsPackage manager distribution (apt, brew, pip, snap)

Key Features of HTTPie

Provides an open-source command-line HTTP client installable via apt, brew, pip, snap, port, choco, and yum.

Offers a Desktop application, currently in public beta, with the same core request functionality as the CLI.

Supports intuitive, human-readable syntax for constructing HTTP requests.

Has an active open-source community with close to 48,000 GitHub stars.

Supports exporting and importing requests and collections.

Handles path parameters and common REST API testing workflows.

Use Cases for HTTPie

Quick command-line API testing

Developers who want a friendlier alternative to curl for testing endpoints from the terminal.

GUI-based request building

Using the Desktop app for a visual interface to the same request engine as the CLI.

Scripting API calls

Embedding HTTPie CLI commands in scripts and automation.

Learning and exploring REST APIs

Developers new to a given API using HTTPie's readable syntax to experiment with requests.

Pros & Cons of HTTPie

Pros

CLI is free, open source, and widely packaged across platforms
Simple, readable syntax that's easier to write from memory than raw curl
Large, active open-source community
Desktop app brings the same simplicity to a GUI

Cons

Desktop app is still in public beta
Full pricing structure for any paid tiers is not clearly published
Smaller enterprise feature set than larger API platforms

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HTTPie free?

The HTTPie CLI is free and open source; the Desktop app is free during its public beta.

Is HTTPie a GUI tool or a command-line tool?

Both: it started as a CLI and now also offers a Desktop GUI app in public beta.

How do I install HTTPie?

It's available through package managers including apt, brew, pip, snap, choco, port, and yum.

Is HTTPie open source?

The CLI is open source; it has nearly 48,000 stars on GitHub.

Pricing Overview

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Freemium

Detailed plans are not listed. Visit the official website for pricing information.

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