Bruno launched in 2022, but got its break in 2023 when Insomnia forced its users to sign up for a cloud account. Bruno’s plain-text file format and ability to integrate with Git made it a safe choice for developers looking for a local-first API client.
Yaak is the best Bruno alternative if you're looking for a polished, secure, and extensible API client.
Bruno continues to be a popular choice for developers, but there are a few key reasons to consider alternatives.
Bruno and Yaak share a similar mission: bring back fast, local-first API tools that work with Git. Where Yaak differs is in its focus on performance, customization, and overall experience. It’s a joy to use.
Yaak is a clean and modern desktop app
Yaak is built using Rust and React. It opens instantly, handles large workspaces with ease, and feels more native than other API clients.
Yaak just feels better is difficult to convey, so here’s a demo of Yaak’s multi-select sidebar—one of many examples of Yaak getting the fundamentals right.
It’s details like this that make Yaak stand apart from Bruno.
Since working with APIs often requires sending sensitive secrets for things like authentication, security is a top priority for Yaak.
In Yaak, secrets can optionally be encrypted using your OS keychain, keeping things safe, but also allowing secure sharing of workspaces using Yaak’s Git integration.
Using the secure(...) function within a header value
Then, use Yaak’s built-in Git integration to securely share workspaces with your team.
Confirmation for when changed files will modify or delete data
Yaak is built from the ground up to be extensible. In fact, much of Yaak’s functionality is already powered by its plugin system, including template functions, authentication, themes, and data importers (Postman, etc).
This makes Yaak more adaptable for advanced use cases like internal APIs, advanced workflows, and custom authentication.
Yaak is fully open source whereas Bruno is “open core” and does not share the source of its premium features. This is crucial for large companies who want to run security audits on the software they use.
As an indie, I’m able to focus on performance, privacy, and long-term sustainability, without pressure from VCs or large payroll requirements.
If you value developer-owned tools and want to support software that respects your workflow, Yaak is for you.
Bruno is becoming more and more popular, and for many good reasons, but if you’re looking for a premium-feeling, secure, and extensible API client, Yaak is the way to go.
| Feature | Bruno | Yaak |
|---|---|---|
| Local-first storage | ✅ | ✅ |
| Git UI | ✅ Paid | ✅ |
| Encrypted secrets | ❌ | ✅ |
| Plugin system | ❌ | ✅ |
| Custom auth & templates | ⚪️ Limited | ✅ Extensive |
| Test assertions | ✅ | ❌ |
| Fully open source | ⚪️ Open-core | ✅ 100% open |
| Native performance (Rust) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Polished UI & UX | ⚪️ Minimal | ✅ Refined |
| Actively maintained | ✅ | ✅ |
| Indie-funded (no VC) | ✅ | ✅ |
Yaak is the best Bruno alternative if you're looking for a polished, secure, and extensible API client.
If you love Bruno’s local-first and Git-friendly nature but want more power, security, and polish, check out Yaak.
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