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Karate and Postman are automated API testing tools, with different purposes and features. Karate is an Open Source, test-automation framework designed especially for automated API testing. It couples API test automation, mocks, performance testing, and even UI automation into a single, unified framework. On the other hand, Postman is a widely used API testing and collaboration platform through which one can create, test, and document APIs with an intuitive interface. However, they have certain limitations as well. Karate has a steeper learning curve for beginners, mainly because of the Gherkin syntax. Postman does very well in manual and semiautomated testing, but scaling it towards testing extensive automated test suites might be tricky.



In this article, let&#8217;s discuss the differences between these <a href="https://testsigma.com/api-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing tools</a> &#8211; Karate vs Postman. We will discuss the key differences, features, similarities, limitations, and the best alternatives to these tools as well.



You can also check out this comprehensive list of the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/web-service-testing-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top 15 web service testing tools</a>.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Karate_vs_Postman_8211_Overview">1 Karate vs Postman &#8211; Overview</a><ul><li><a href="#Which_is_Karatenbsp">1.1 Which is Karate?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_Postman">1.2 What is Postman?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Alternative_to_Karate_and_Postman_8211_Testsigma">2 Alternative to Karate and Postman &#8211; Testsigma</a><ul><li><a href="#Highlighting_Features_of_Testsigma">2.1 Highlighting Features of Testsigma</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Karate_vs_Postman_vs_Testsigma_8211_Key_Differences">3 Karate vs Postman vs Testsigma &#8211; Key Differences</a></li><li><a href="#Karate_and_Postman_8211_Similarities">4 Karate and Postman &#8211; Similarities</a></li><li><a href="#Karate_vs_Postman_8211_Which_Should_I_Choose_for_API_Automated_Testing">5 Karate vs Postman &#8211; Which Should I Choose for API Automated Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Karate_vs_Postman_8211_Conclusion">6 Karate vs Postman &#8211; Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">7 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Can_I_migrate_the_test_data_from_Postman_or_Karate_to_Testsigma">7.1 Can I migrate the test data from Postman or Karate to Testsigma?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-karate-vs-postman-overview">Karate vs Postman &#8211; Overview</h2>



Among API testing tools, the two most talked-about are Karate and Postman, but they have many distinguishing features and different capabilities. Knowing the unique advantages and some possible disadvantages of the tools helps the teams understand which tool suits their testing requirements.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-is-karate">Which is Karate?&nbsp;</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="799" height="134" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Karate.jpg" alt="Karate" class="wp-image-35470"/></figure>



Karate is a compelling open-source framework developed for automated testing, with an explicit focus on APIs. It brings the ability to combine <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-api-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated testing in APIs</a>, mocks, performance testing, and UI automation into a unified framework. Tests in Karate are written in a very readable Gherkin syntax, making them approachable to non-developers. It integrates well with CI/CD pipelines, so tests can run and deploy automatically. It also has in-built support of the GraphQL and SOAP API for an extensive scope in a testing scenario.



Read here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/karate-labs-alternatives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karate Alternatives</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-postman">What is Postman?</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="798" height="134" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Postman.jpg" alt="Postman" class="wp-image-31366"/></figure>



Postman is a platform for creating and testing APIs, with an inbuilt user interface. Postman supports automation testing by enabling the scripting of detailed and reusable scenarios of tests. It has a user-friendly interface in which a team can share and manage the requests and responses of its APIs, providing grounds for collaboration among the developers and testers. It also includes API monitoring, mock servers, and environment management features. But for extensive automation and integration with CI/CD, you may need an extra suite of tools or manual, tailor-made scripts.



Check out the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/postman-alternatives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Postman Alternatives</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alternative-to-karate-and-postman-testsigma">Alternative to Karate and Postman &#8211; Testsigma</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1201" height="821" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/04112145/Alternative-to-Karate-and-Postman-Testsigma.png" alt="Alternative to Karate and Postman - Testsigma" class="wp-image-45870" srcset="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/04112145/Alternative-to-Karate-and-Postman-Testsigma.png 1201w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/04112145/Alternative-to-Karate-and-Postman-Testsigma-768x525.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px" /></figure></div>



Among the best alternatives for API testing stands <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>. Testsigma is a full-blown, AI-powered test automation platform; it supports not only API testing but also web and mobile application testing. You can easily create test cases using simple natural English language or you can also record your test steps based on the actions performed on an application.&nbsp;



It enables a unified approach toward test automation that makes test maintenance and execution across different platforms accessible within one ecosystem. It provides a very intuitive interface and extensive features, making the whole testing process streamlined and team members collaborate smoothly.



Here’s a complete list of the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-automation-frameworks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">best test automation frameworks</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-highlighting-features-of-testsigma">Highlighting Features of Testsigma</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Unified Test Automation: Single platform to support API, web, mobile, and desktop application testing.</li><li>No-Code/Low-Code Interface: Helps users to create tests with no or little programming experience, hence being user-friendly for non-developers.</li><li>CI/CD Integration: It integrates seamlessly with the most common and best-of-best CI/CD tools, including Jenkins, CircleCI, and Azure DevOps, to automate testing and deployments.</li><li>Cross-browser and Cross-device testing: It supports test execution across multiple devices, browsers, and OS environments to ensure both compatibility and performance.</li><li>Data-Driven Testing: It enables the testing of a product with various input data sets for functionality validation under different test conditions.</li><li>Real-Time Reporting and Analytics: Ensures a well-articulated test report and analytics to track test results, find issues, and improve test coverage.</li><li>Reusable Test Steps: It makes test steps and components reusable, thereby ensuring efficiency and eliminating duplications.</li><li>Parallel testing: It gives you the possibility to speed up the process of testing and, hence, minimize the overall amount of testing time required.&nbsp;</li><li>Collaboration Tools: It allows team collaboration, shared workspaces, and version control for coordinated testing efforts.</li></ol>



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Explore Testsigma for automating your API tests with end-to-end UI tests for web, mobile and desktop applications
from the same place, 10x faster
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-karate-vs-postman-vs-testsigma-key-differences">Karate vs Postman vs Testsigma &#8211; Key Differences</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature/Aspect</td><td>Karate</td><td>Postman</td><td>Testsigma</td></tr><tr><td>Primary Use</td><td>Automated API testing</td><td>API development and testing</td><td>Comprehensive test automation</td></tr><tr><td>Syntax</td><td>Gherkin</td><td>JavaScript for scripting</td><td>No-code/Low-code interface</td></tr><tr><td>UI/UX</td><td>Command-line and text-based</td><td>Intuitive graphical user interface</td><td>Intuitive graphical user interface</td></tr><tr><td>Integration with CI/CD</td><td>Excellent integration</td><td>Limited integration</td><td>Seamless integration</td></tr><tr><td>Performance Testing</td><td>Included</td><td>Requires additional tools</td><td>Not Included</td></tr><tr><td>API Types Supported</td><td>REST, SOAP, GraphQL</td><td>REST, SOAP</td><td>REST, GraphQL, Web, Mobile, Desktop</td></tr><tr><td>Data-Driven Testing</td><td>Supported</td><td>Supported</td><td>Supported</td></tr><tr><td>Ease of Use</td><td>Steep learning curve for beginners</td><td>Easy to use, suitable for beginners</td><td>Easy to use, suitable for beginners</td></tr><tr><td>Test Maintenance</td><td>Manual</td><td>Manual</td><td>AI-driven test maintenance</td></tr><tr><td>Parallel Execution</td><td>Supported</td><td>Requires additional setup</td><td>Supported</td></tr><tr><td>Cross-Platform Testing</td><td>API and UI testing</td><td>API testing only</td><td>Web, Mobile, Desktop testing</td></tr><tr><td>Collaboration Features</td><td>Limited</td><td>Strong collaboration features</td><td>Strong collaboration features</td></tr><tr><td>Real-Time Reporting</td><td>Limited</td><td>Detailed reports available</td><td>Detailed real-time reporting</td></tr><tr><td>Community and Support</td><td>Growing community</td><td>Large community and extensive support</td><td>Growing community and professional support</td></tr><tr><td>Reusable Test Steps</td><td>Limited</td><td>Limited</td><td>Extensive reuse capabilities</td></tr><tr><td>Environment Management</td><td>Limited</td><td>Strong environment management</td><td>Strong environment management</td></tr><tr><td>Cost</td><td>Free and open-source</td><td>Free tier, paid plans for advanced features</td><td>Paid plans with enterprise-level features</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/karate-vs-rest-assured/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karate vs Rest Assured</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-karate-and-postman-similarities">Karate and Postman &#8211; Similarities</h2>



Both Karate and Postman are <a href="https://testsigma.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation testing tools</a> explicitly aimed at making the testing of APIs easier, allowing one to check whether the APIs are working, reliable, and performant. They support the testing of both REST and SOAP APIs, thus covering a broad application domain within web services. There are also a couple of features, including mocking servers, offered by both Postman and Karate.



Another similarity between Karate and Postman is that both support data-driven testing. They allow the execution of tests with different data sets to build checks on API working under variant conditions. The tools seamlessly integrate with CI/CD pipelines to have API tests included in the automated deployment workflow for continuous validation and quality assurance.



Check out the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/postman-alternatives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">best alternatives to Postman</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-karate-vs-postman-which-should-i-choose-for-api-automated-testing">Karate vs Postman &#8211; Which Should I Choose for API Automated Testing?</h2>



The choice between Karate or Postman mainly depends on your exact requirements, what your team is experienced with, and your workflow preferences.&nbsp;



If your team requires a solution that is much richer in capabilities, including <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/api-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing</a>, within the same framework without any integration, Karate is most likely the best candidate for you. Its Gherkin syntax makes it easily accessible even to non-developers, whereby stakeholders with less programming knowledge can effectively be involved in the process of creating and maintaining tests. Karate can help with several types of APIs: REST, SOAP, or GraphQL, and, again, integrates with CI/CD pipelines.



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/jmeter-vs-postman/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JMeter vs Postman</a>



Postman, conversely, proves to be a user-friendly development and testing API platform, ideal for teams who consider ease of use and team effort most important. Its intuitive graphical interface easily facilitates the development, testing, and documentation of APIs, meaning it works great for developers and testers. Postman is rich in solid collaboration features, like shared workspaces and version control, making it easy for teams to communicate and coordinate. But for complete automation and integration with CI/CD, some other tooling support or scripting might be needed.&nbsp;



Ultimately, the choice between Karate and Postman would depend on the kind of test you have, the complexity, the technical ability of your team, and the necessity of collaborating on features as part of a workflow.



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/insomnia-vs-postman/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Insomnia vs Postman</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-karate-vs-postman-conclusion">Karate vs Postman &#8211; Conclusion</h2>



To sum up, Karate and Postman each come with their benefits and different purposes within the software development lifecycle. Karate is particularly potent due to its all-in-one nature and its support for API, UI, and performance testing, with its syntax based on Gherkin. Postman, with its intuitive interface and robust collaboration functionalities, makes API development and testing very easy, and it is popular with teams with shared workspaces.



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/rest-assured-vs-postman/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">REST Assured vs Postman</a>



However, if you are looking for an alternative that brings forward the strengths of both Karate and Postman, then Testsigma is an exciting alternative with a Unified Test Automation platform using a no-code/ low-code interface and a rich set of features. With these taken into careful consideration, you should be able to make a fit tool choice according to the goals and develop a solid and reliable strategy for API testing.



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Explore Testsigma for automating your API tests with end-to-end UI tests for web, mobile and desktop applications
from the same place, 10x faster
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-i-migrate-the-test-data-from-postman-or-karate-to-testsigma">Can I migrate the test data from Postman or Karate to Testsigma?</h3>



Yes, test data migration from Postman or Karate to Testsigma is feasible. There are test import functionalities and APIs for Testsigma that can be used to migrate test cases and data. Most probably, the minimum manual effort required would be in reformatting the data and making some specific alterations in the test scripts. You are highly recommended to go through the extensive and helpful documentation and support provided by Testsigma so that the transition becomes seamless.

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