Bruno vs Scalar
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Free, offline-first desktop app for exploring and testing APIs, storing collections as files.
Open source · MIT
Turns OpenAPI/Swagger documents into interactive API docs and includes an API testing client.
The short answer
Choose Bruno if you need…
- Developers who want to test HTTP or GraphQL APIs without an account or cloud sync
- Teams that already keep code in Git and want API collections stored alongside it
- People who want to run API test collections in CI/CD using the Bruno CLI
- Users who care about keeping API data on their own device
Choose Scalar if you need…
- Developers who already maintain an OpenAPI or Swagger document
- Teams that want readable, interactive API documentation
- Developers who want to test endpoints from the same tool they use for docs
- Backend developers using a supported framework such as FastAPI, Hono, or Express
Side-by-side
| Bruno | Scalar | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 48k | 16.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Download the app | Use it in the browser (or self-host) |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Bruno
Bruno is a desktop app for sending requests to APIs and checking the responses, similar in purpose to Postman or Insomnia. It saves your request collections as plain-text files in a folder on your computer, so they can be versioned with Git and shared like any other project files. The README states it is offline-only and has no plans for cloud sync.
Scalar
Scalar is an open-source project that takes an OpenAPI (Swagger) description of a web API and turns it into a browsable, interactive reference page. It also includes an API client for sending test requests, and the README says it can generate code examples in many languages. Developers use it to document and try out their APIs without building that interface themselves.
Best for
Bruno
- Developers who want to test HTTP or GraphQL APIs without an account or cloud sync
- Teams that already keep code in Git and want API collections stored alongside it
- People who want to run API test collections in CI/CD using the Bruno CLI
- Users who care about keeping API data on their own device
Scalar
- Developers who already maintain an OpenAPI or Swagger document
- Teams that want readable, interactive API documentation
- Developers who want to test endpoints from the same tool they use for docs
- Backend developers using a supported framework such as FastAPI, Hono, or Express
Strengths
Bruno
- Collections are stored as plain files, which works well with Git and other version control
- Works offline and keeps data on the local device, per the README
- Available for Mac, Windows and Linux, with the CLI usable in automated pipelines
Scalar
- Free and open-source under the MIT license
- Renders OpenAPI/Swagger documents with an interactive reference view
- Offers a single-HTML-file setup that needs no build step
Not ideal for
Bruno
- Teams that need cloud-synced collections across machines, since the README says Bruno is offline-only and has no plans for cloud sync
- People looking for a hosted service with built-in team dashboards, as the README describes Bruno as a local tool with paid versions for extra features
Scalar
- People without an OpenAPI document, since the README centers on rendering existing OpenAPI specs rather than writing them
- Users who need an API client only for non-OpenAPI workflows, as the README emphasizes OpenAPI support
- Anyone needing a fully self-hosted setup without reviewing the README, since the quickstart example loads assets and a proxy from scalar.com and jsDelivr CDN
Trade-offs
Bruno
- The README does not describe the full feature set, so specific capabilities need checking in the documentation
- Cloud sync and team hosting are not offered; the README points to paid versions for additional features
- The README is truncated, so details on paid tiers and edge-case behavior are unclear
Scalar
- The README is truncated, so full feature and configuration details are not confirmed here
- The quickstart depends on external CDN and proxy URLs rather than local files alone
- The latest release has no binaries, so the desktop download path is only described on the project's website
Getting started
Bruno
Install on Mac via Homebrew
brew install brunoInstall the Bruno CLI from npm
npm install -g @usebruno/cliScalar
Install the coding agent skill (optional)
npx skills add scalar/scalar --skill scalar-api-referenceClone the repository
git clone https://github.com/scalar/scalarFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Bruno and Scalar?
Bruno: Free, offline-first desktop app for exploring and testing APIs, storing collections as files. Scalar: Turns OpenAPI/Swagger documents into interactive API docs and includes an API testing client. Bruno suits developers who want to test http or graphql apis without an account or cloud sync, while Scalar suits developers who already maintain an openapi or swagger document.
Are Bruno and Scalar free?
Bruno: Free and open source. Scalar: Free and open source.
Is Bruno or Scalar more popular?
Bruno has more GitHub stars (48k) than Scalar (16.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Bruno and Scalar?
Other options people compare them with include Hoppscotch, AI Website Cloner, Redoc.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.