Postman vs ReadyAPI – Which is Better?

API testing can be performed using tools like Testsigma, Postman, ReadyAPI, Swagger, etc. In this blog, we will compare Postman and ReadyAPI for API testing, and also briefly about Testsigma.  

Postman vs ReadyAPI – Overview

What is Postman?

Postman is a popular API tool, it is available as a free and paid version. Postman can be used for API development, debugging, and testing of APIs.

• Postman has lightweight clients available for different operating systems. 
• It comes with an easy and intuitive user interface which reduces the learning curve. 
• With Postman one can send requests, validate the response,  pretty format the response, and organize them in folders and collections. 
• Postman also supports environment variables, and global variables which help in multiple environments testing such as Dev, QA, Staging and Production environments. 
• API can be tested in the early stages using the mocking without the backend integration. 
• It also supports API automation using JavaScript and integration with CI/CD pipelines using the command line tool called newman.

Check here – Postman Alternatives

What is ReadyAPI?

ReadyAPI is an advanced API testing platform owned by SmartBear Inc.

•  ReadyAPI can be used for testing different types of APIs such as GraphQL, REST APIs, SOAP APIs, etc. Check here – Rest API Testing
• It can be used to streamline the API testing process by automating the functionality and performance of APIs. 
• ReadyAPI can be used for both manual and automation testing. 
• ReadyAPI client comes with a rich UI with drag-and-drop support, and it is customizable.
• Using ReadyAPI one can perform data-driven tests, handle assertions, and create reusable tests.  
• ReadyAPI also supports CI/CD integration with many popular tools such as Git, Docker, Jenkins, Azure DevOps, and TeamCity. 
• ReadyAPI has inbuilt reporting which is capable of creating JUnit, HTML, CSV, or customizable reporting formats. 

Check here – Best API Testing Tools

What is Testsigma?

Testsigma is an advanced no-code test automation platform, it supports many testing types without scripting including APIs. One of the unique features of Testsigma is that API calls can be part of your functional testing.

With Testsigma, testers can write API tests just by using visual forms, which reduces the programming language skill barrier. Testsigma supports data-driven testing, which allows a high degree of code reusability. Testaigma also supports CI/CD integration with many popular tools. Features like real-time reporting, test scheduling, and analytics make Testsigma unique. 

Additionally, API testing can be a part of your functional testing including web or mobile, which means that the same suite can contain both API and end-to-end tests or you can even validate the API responses against the UI data. 

Testsigma uses modern AI capabilities and helps reduce the maintenance effort considerably. Interestingly, all these advanced features can be used with any browser without requiring the installation of any client application natively, as it is a cloud-based tool. 

All of your test suites, reports, and data can be accessed from anywhere and from any machine with valid authentication.

Postman vs ReadyAPI – Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons of Postman?

Postman may serve as a good tool for the basic development, testing, and debugging of APIs. Postman is used by many popular organizations as it has free versions and the user interface is very easy. There is less learning to use the Postman. 

Though it has many good features, Postman may not be suitable for streamlining the API testing process, and Postman does not have UI functional testing capability. Let’s understand the Pros and Cons of Postman.

Check here – Karate vs Postman

Pros of Postman

• Easy to install and setup Postman
• It has an intuitive UI and easy-to-learn
• Postman supports parameterization, which makes multi-environment testing easier.
• Postman tests/requests can be organized as collections and folders for better readability and management.
• Tests/Requests can be exported as a .json file, which can be sent over chats, or email to share with anyone.
• Postman also supports collaboration features with a workspace option
• Tests can be executed from UI or command line using the newman
• Postman supports mock servers, which simulate API responses and allow testing without a backend integration
• It also supports API test automation using the JavaScript programming language
• Postman tests can be integrated with CI/CD pipelines for faster feedback
• API Documentation Generation allows users to create detailed, shareable API documentation from Postman
• Postman also supports data-driven testing with a popular CSV, JSON file structure

Check here – REST Assured vs Postman

Cons of Postman

• Though the Postman interface is rich and seems easy for basic tasks, advanced options may be difficult to use especially if you are a beginner.
• It doesn’t support UI-based functional testing, you cannot combine UI and API tests.
• As the API collections or number of requests becomes more, the Postman client application will have performance issues.
• The free version has a lot of restrictions including the request limit.
• Configuring Postman tests into the CI/CD pipeline requires technical expertise.
• It supports only basic debugging, it lacks advanced debugging capabilities
• Postman automation scripts follow unique syntax and structure and it may demand upskill

Check here – SoapUI vs Postman 

Pros and Cons of ReadyAPI?

ReadyAPI is a low code API testing tool, which helps to create functional API tests with ease. ReadyAPI requires the ReadyAPI client to be installed locally to start with. Though ReadyAPI is capable of performing the API functional tests, Performance Tests, and Security Tests those modules require separate subscriptions. It supports a lot of enterprise-level features by supporting easy integration across the different flows. Let’s understand the Pros and Cons of ReadyAPI.

Pros of Ready API

• ReadyAPI supports different types of API testing including SOAP, REST, and GraphQL.
• ReadyAPI can be extended to perform API Security Testing and Load Testing
• It has an inbuilt API Client application, which eliminates complex coding and supports building the API tests using drag-drop options
• It supports API testing in multi-environments like QA, Staging, Production, etc.
• ReadyAPI provides seamless integration across the DevOps, Project Management, and Versioning tools.
• Inbuilt Reporter in ReadyAPI eliminates integration of any third-party tool and reports can be generated with JUnit, HTML, CSV, or customizable reporting formats.

Cons of ReadyAPI

• ReadyAPI licensing is expensive, and may not be suitable for all types of organizations. Additionally, based on the modules subscription like Load Testing and Security Testing cost might further increase.
• ReadyAPI client may be resource-heavy, it may lag and cause performance issues with low-configuration machines.
• It bundles a lot of features into a single tool which may confuse the users and result in a steep learning curve.
• Advanced scripting is limited to Groovy language only
• Unlike Postman, ReadyAPI does not offer a free version, it offers only a limited-time trial version for free
• Comparing cloud-native tools like Testsigma, it lacks cloud testing capabilities with limited features
• Setting up a mock server is complicated; it may require expertise and resources.
• ReadyAPI does not support UI-based functional or end-to-end tests, which means that you need to use different tools to achieve the same.

Check here – Insomnia vs Postman

Testsigma – An Alternative to Postman and Ready API

Testsigma is an advanced AI-based test automation tool. It supports all different testing types such as cross-browser, data-driven, API testing, visual testing, etc. in one platform. This allows users to combine the different types of testing requirements in one suite by making it easier to maintain the test cases. 

The AI-based feature further simplifies test maintenance. Additionally, unlike other tools, Testsigma does not require any client to be installed on the local machine, as it is a cloud-based platform all the features can be performed directly using the web browser without writing a single line of code. Testsigma can serve as the good alternative for Postman and ReadyAPI. Let’s discuss the features of Testsigma in detail.

• Testsigma is an all-in-one platform, as it supports all different types of tests such as UI, functional, API, and Visual testing in one platform.
• It is a no-code platform that doesn’t require you to learn any programming language.
• It allows the next level of validation of web applications by combining API responses and UI-based data.
• Advanced integrated AI capabilities help to reduce the test case maintenance effort.
• It supports data-driven testing, data can be stored in external files and the same tests can be executed in different sets of data.
• Does not require the installation of any client application in the native system, all tasks can be performed using the web browser.
• Supports cloud-driven test execution
• Testsigma supports integration with many third-party applications that belong to CI/CD, Project Management, Corporate messaging, defect tracking, etc.
• Allows collaboration with access roles, which eases the creation, execution, and maintenance of the API testing
• Testsigma also has a customizable dashboard with shareable reports

Testsigma vs Postman vs ReadyAPI Table Comparison

Features	Testsigma	Postman	ReadyAPI
What is it for?	End to End solution for all of the testing needs including UI, API, and Visual Regression testing with in-built cloud integration	A platform that provides an environment to create, debug, and APIs	An API Testing tool, that supports automation and manual testing functional API testing, Performance, and Security testing of APIs
User experience	Very intuitive and modern UI provides a smooth user interface	Good interface.However, maybe laggy for large-scale projects	The user interface is good but maybe complex for beginners.
Pricing	Flexible Pricing plans	Free and Priced	Cost heavy
Support for no-code automation	Yes, Supports no code. All complex scenarios can be handled with visual forms.	No support for no code automation	Yes, supports no code automation but requires learning
Cloud-based tool	Yes, it is a cloud-based tool. No native client installation required	No, Requires client installation for full-fledged features	No, Requires the installation of the client
Integrations	Supports integration of DevOps, Defect Tracking, Bug Tracking, and Corporate Messaging tools	Limited integration support	Supports integration of tools such as DevOps, Defect Tracking, Bug Tracking, etc.
Reporting and Dashboards	Provides advanced analytics and reporting	Supports reporting	Supports reporting and dashboards
Advanced capabilities	The AI-based tool reduces the maintenance of test cases.	No advanced capabilities like AI	No advanced capabilities like AI
Support for UI-based Functional Testing	Yes, Supports UI, API, and Visual Testing	No support for UI Testing	No support for UI Testing
Test automation	Yes, Supported	Supported with Scripting.	Supported
Data-driven testing	Yes, Supported	Yes, Supported	Yes, Supported

Testsigma vs Postman vs ReadyAPI: which one to choose?

Postman is good for basic development, debugging, and testing APIs, it provides a smooth and easy interface. However, considering test automation streamlining Postman may lack many features including limited integration support, reporting, and other advanced features. 

ReadyAPI is an enterprise tool, though it has many features, it is costlier for many organizations and many organizations may think it is not budget-friendly. 

Both Postman and ReadyAPI do not support functional UI-based test automation. This means that if you are looking to automate both API and UI scenarios you may need to consider two different tools to fulfill your requirements. This not only increases the maintenance but also increases the cost to the organization. 

Testsigma is a budget-friendly tool that has all the capabilities required for test automation for UI, API, and Visual regression testing. The test suite can have a combination of scenarios like both UI and API which helps in lowering the maintenance. Additionally, it has inbuilt AI capability which reduces the maintenance effort. 

The best tool for your project or team depends on a lot of factors including organization-specific requirements. One needs to carefully evaluate the requirements against the tool to choose the best one.

Conclusion

Considering the complexity and testing scope of modern web and mobile application development – both UI and API have equal importance. So having the combination of both API and UI tests allows us to gain higher confidence and smoother releases. 

Some tools like Postman and ReadyAPI support only API test automation however considering the scope of test automation you may need to have multiple tools. One for API testing and one for UI testing. This not only increases the cost but also increases the maintenance effort. 

Tools like Testsigma support both API and UI testing in one platform which allows a combination of tests in one test suite and on the same platform. The no-code approach in test automation allows to accelerate the test automation and increase productivity. In turn, it helps to increase the overall ROI on test automation.

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