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Comparison

MyDevTools vs Bruno: open-source desktop API clients compared

Bruno is an open-source, Git-native API client that stores collections as plain-text files and sells Pro and Ultimate tiers on top. MyDevTools is an open-source (AGPL-3.0) desktop API client where every feature is free for good: REST, GraphQL, WebSocket and gRPC, a local mock server, collection runner, scripting and vault-backed secrets — plus 80+ other developer tools in the same window.

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Choose Bruno when

Bruno is the better fit when your collections must live in a Git repository today.

  • You want collections as plain-text files reviewed in pull requests, with the native Git commit and push UI on the paid tiers.
  • You run collections in CI with the bru CLI, Docker image or GitHub Action.
  • You need Windows or Linux builds — MyDevTools ships macOS builds today.

Choose MyDevTools when

MyDevTools has no feature gates: nothing is held back for a Pro or Ultimate plan, and there is no account to create.

  • Secrets from the encrypted local vault, unlimited OpenAPI and Postman imports, and every feature unlocked — nothing behind a $6 or $11 per-user plan.
  • REST, GraphQL, WebSocket and native gRPC, plus a local mock server, a runner with data files and JUnit export, and sandboxed pm.* scripts.
  • A UI in 27 languages, and JSON, JWT, SQL, MongoDB, Redis and vault tools in the same window.

Verdict

Bruno wins when Git-tracked collection files and a CI runner are the priority. MyDevTools wins when you want every feature free, a private offline setup, and the rest of your toolkit alongside the client.

  • Best Git-native collections and CLI: Bruno.
  • Best fully free, account-free API client: MyDevTools.
  • Best API client plus 80+ developer tools: MyDevTools.

Common comparison questions

Is MyDevTools free like Bruno?

MyDevTools is free for every feature with no paid tier, ever. The core Bruno client is free and MIT-licensed, but its native Git UI, more than two workspaces, unlimited OpenAPI sync, secret-manager integrations and AI assistant are gated behind Pro and Ultimate plans.

Does MyDevTools store collections as files like Bruno?

Not today. Collections are stored locally in an encrypted SQLCipher database on your device. You can export to Postman, OpenAPI 3.0, HAR or Insomnia v4 whenever you need a file.