Bruno is a powerful open-source API client, but it doesn't include a mock server. ApiNotes provides hosted mock servers from OpenAPI specs with built-in Bruno export — combine both tools for the best API testing workflow.
Bruno is a fast, open-source, offline-first API client that stores collections as plain text files in your Git repo. It's a privacy-focused alternative to Postman. However, Bruno does not have a built-in mock server feature — you cannot generate mock API endpoints from an OpenAPI spec within Bruno itself.
ApiNotes is a hosted mock server platform that generates live API mocks from OpenAPI specifications. The key differentiator: ApiNotes has a native "Export to Bruno" button that downloads your mock endpoints as a complete Bruno collection. This means you get the best of both worlds — a cloud-hosted mock server with a local, Git-friendly API client.
| Feature | Bruno | ApiNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | API client (send requests) | Mock server (simulate APIs) |
| Built-in mock server | ❌ Not available | ✅ Cloud-hosted mocks |
| OpenAPI spec import | ✅ Import collections | ✅ Generate mocks from spec |
| Export to Bruno | N/A (native format) | ✅ One-click export |
| Offline / local-first | ✅ Fully offline | Cloud-hosted (URL needed) |
| Open source | ✅ MIT license | Proprietary (free tier) |
| Git-friendly storage | ✅ Plain .bru files | ✅ Via Bruno export |
| Account required | ❌ No account | ❌ Anonymous mocks available |
| API documentation | ❌ | ✅ Full docs platform |
| OpenAPI validator | ❌ | ✅ Built-in |
| Spec diff tool | ❌ | ✅ Built-in |
| Price | Free (Golden Ed: $19 one-time) | Free tier / $8/mo Developer |
| Best for | Sending requests & testing APIs | Generating & hosting mock APIs |
No. Bruno is an API client — it sends requests and manages collections. It does not include a mock server feature. You cannot generate mock endpoints or simulate API responses from within Bruno. For mocking, you'd need a separate tool like WireMock, Mockoon, or a cloud service.
Yes. ApiNotes is a hosted mock server. Paste your OpenAPI spec, click "Create Mock Server," and every endpoint gets a live URL with realistic responses. Then click "Export to Bruno" to download the collection as .bru files, ready to open in Bruno and start testing immediately.
Bruno excels as an API client: sending HTTP requests, managing environments, scripting pre/post-request logic, and storing everything as Git-friendly plain text files. It's open source, offline-first, and free. But testing requires a real API or a separate mock server.
ApiNotes is a mock server platform plus API documentation generator. It reads your OpenAPI spec and creates hosted mock endpoints. You don't manually define responses — they're generated from your schema. ApiNotes complements Bruno by providing the mock backend that Bruno can send requests to.
ApiNotes is the only mock server with a native Bruno export. Here's the workflow:
https://apinotes.io/mock/abc123)Fully offline and local. Collections are stored as files on your machine — never uploaded to a cloud. No account required. This is Bruno's biggest advantage over Postman, which requires cloud sync.
Mock servers are cloud-hosted (needed to give you a URL that your frontend/CI can reach). But no account is required for anonymous mocks. Specs are only used for mock generation and aren't stored permanently on anonymous tier. Export to Bruno for local-first testing.
Free and open source (MIT license). The desktop app is completely free. Bruno Golden Edition (premium) is a one-time purchase of $19 for advanced features like visual Git diff and secret management. No subscription, no per-user fees.
Free anonymous mocks: 500 requests, 72-hour validity, no account needed. Free registered plan: 1 mock, 1K requests/month. Developer plan ($8/month, flat): 2 persistent mocks, 50K requests/month, plus full API docs, validator, and spec diff tools.
Bruno and ApiNotes aren't competitors — they're complementary tools. Use ApiNotes to generate mock servers, then use Bruno to test them.
Generate a mock server from your OpenAPI spec, export to Bruno, and start testing — all in under a minute.