Bruno

Key Features

• Offline-Only: Bruno works entirely offline. There is no cloud-syncing—your data stays on your machine.

• Open Source: Fully open-source and community-driven, Bruno welcomes contributions and customization.

• Lightweight and Fast: Designed to be a performance-focused alternative to bulkier tools like Postman or Insomnia.

• Plain Text Storage (Bru Format): API requests are saved in a human-readable markup format called .bru, making them easy to version and manage.

• Git-Native Integration: Collections live in your project folders and can be version-controlled just like source code.

• Cross-Platform: Runs smoothly across major operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

• No Vendor Lock-In: Since everything is stored locally and in plain text, you're never tied to a specific platform or service.

• Developer-First Philosophy: Focused purely on API development and testing, without unnecessary platform features or UI bloat.

Bruno: A Lightweight, Git-Friendly Open Source API Client

The world of API clients has long been dominated by heavyweight tools like Postman and Insomnia. While powerful, these tools often come bundled with complex features, cloud integrations, and platform dependencies that many developers don't actually need. Bruno is here to offer a refreshing alternative.

Bruno is an open-source API client that keeps things simple and developer-first. It's built from the ground up to be fast, lightweight, and fully offline. Instead of syncing collections to the cloud, Bruno stores them as plain text files directly on your local filesystem. These files are written in a straightforward markup language called Bru, making them easy to read, version, and share.

What really sets Bruno apart is its seamless integration with Git. Since your API collections live in your project's directory structure, they can be tracked, versioned, and collaborated on just like any other code. Whether you're working with GitHub, GitLab, or any other version control system, Bruno fits neatly into your existing workflow—no extra setup required.

This local-first philosophy isn't just a feature—it's a core principle. Bruno intentionally avoids cloud syncing to prioritize data privacy and control. Your API requests and history stay on your machine, giving you full ownership without third-party dependencies.

Built to run across platforms, Bruno doesn’t compromise on usability. It’s modern, yet minimal, stripping away the clutter in favor of a streamlined experience focused solely on what developers need to explore and test APIs efficiently.

Bruno isn't just an alternative to Postman or Insomnia—it's a reimagining of what an API client should be: open, fast, offline, and Git-native. For developers who want a tool that respects their workflows and stays out of their way, Bruno just might be the ideal companion.