The Top 7 REST API Tools | 2025

Integrations are everywhere, and data-sharing between systems is more vital than ever. Software applications use application programming interfaces (APIs) to ensure all moving parts work together. A REST API follows specific guidelines that dictate how applications or devices connect and communicate with one another to make integrations simple and scalable.

How to Evaluate REST API Tools

-Understand REST: REST is an architectural style based on six principles. REST API tools help you design, build, manage, and test these APIs.

-Match the tool to the job: Do you need an API generation & management platform, a gateway, design & documentation tooling, or testing and validation?

-Prioritize your criteria: Flexibility, adaptability, compatibility, scalability, ease of use, security, support, and total cost.

-Trial first: Request demos or trials to validate performance, security models, and developer experience.

-Consider low/no-code options: They can reduce time-to-value for many teams.

What Is a REST API?

A REST API (or RESTful API) leverages HTTP requests to access and manipulate data, following six design constraints:

• Client–server: Separation of concerns between UI/client and data/server.
• Uniform interface: A consistent way for any client to interact with the API.
• Statelessness: Each request contains everything needed; the server doesn’t store client state.
• Cacheability: Responses can be cached when appropriate.
• Layered system: Intermediaries can exist without clients needing to know details.
• Code on demand (optional): Servers can send executable code to clients.

REST APIs simplify development, provide a stable abstraction layer, and tap into a broad ecosystem. You can hand-code with frameworks (e.g., Flask, Express, Spring) or use platforms that generate and manage REST APIs for you.

How to Choose a REST API Tool

Start with your objective, then narrow by capabilities and constraints:

• Categories: API generation/management platforms, gateways, design & documentation tools, testing tools.
• Key considerations: Supported data sources, authentication & RBAC, deployment model (on-prem, containers, cloud), performance, observability, and TCO.

7 Top REST API Tools

1) DreamFactory (API generation & management)

Overview: DreamFactory is an automated REST API generation and management platform. It can instantly generate secure, fully documented REST APIs from a wide range of data sources (SQL/NoSQL databases, file storage, and more). Each service includes live OpenAPI (Swagger) documentation. Built-in security options (API keys/JWT, OAuth2/OIDC, LDAP/Active Directory, SAML) and role-based access control are included. Add custom business logic using server-side scripting (Node.js, Python, PHP). Deploy on-premises, on VMs, in containers, or on Kubernetes

Pros: Rapid API enablement over existing data sources; integrated security and docs; excellent for internal data access layers and app backends.

Cons: Not a dedicated no-code ETL platform; advanced connectors/features may vary by edition; self-hosting requires standard ops unless using a managed option.

Try it: Start a trial or talk to an engineer.

2) Apigee (gateway & full-lifecycle management)

Overview: An enterprise API management platform for building, securing, analyzing, and governing APIs (REST/SOAP/GraphQL). Suited to large-scale gateway needs with policy-driven security, analytics, developer portals, and monetization.

Pros: Enterprise security and governance; deep analytics; strong ecosystem integrations.

Cons: Learning curve; hybrid/private cloud configuration complexity.

3) Katalon (API testing)

Overview: Test automation across API, web, mobile, and desktop. Supports REST and SOAP, CI/CD integrations, and robust reporting.

Pros: Unified testing stack; low-/no-code plus code; strong CI/CD integrations.

Cons: Performance/stability may vary by environment.

4) Postman (design, testing, collaboration)

Overview: A widely used platform for designing, testing, documenting, and collaborating on APIs. Features collections, monitors, mocks, and automations.

Pros: Intuitive UI; strong collaboration; generous feature coverage.

Cons: Can be resource-intensive; some advanced features are paid.

5) SoapUI (testing)

Overview: Deep functional, performance, and security testing across REST and SOAP, plus service mocking.

Pros: Powerful test suites and automation.

Cons: UI feels dated; limitations in modularization/reporting.

6) Swagger UI (design & docs)

Overview: Part of the OpenAPI ecosystem for design and interactive documentation, enabling quick endpoint exploration.

Pros: Clean, interactive docs; accelerates specification-driven development.

Cons: Can be slow on very large specs; limited automation compared to full platforms.

7) REST-assured (Java testing)

Overview: A Java DSL for writing code-driven REST API tests with concise, expressive syntax; integrates with Maven/CI.

Pros: Powerful assertions and JSON handling for Java teams.

Cons: Requires Java expertise; not visual/no-code.

Comparison of Top REST API Tools

Which Tool Is Best?

Shortlist tools aligned to your goals, request demos, and run a proof-of-concept. Consider compatibility, security, deployment model, and developer experience. If your priority is rapidly exposing existing data sources as secure, documented APIs with minimal boilerplate, DreamFactory provides a fast path from data to API with integrated auth, RBAC, and live docs.

The Future of API Generation

Low-/no-code API generation is accelerating delivery by abstracting repetitive scaffolding and security plumbing. With DreamFactory, you can connect a data source, generate an API, and immediately get live OpenAPI docs and policy-driven security—blending speed with governance for teams exposing databases or file stores.

Manage Your REST APIs with DreamFactory

If you’re looking for a faster path to secure, documented APIs, DreamFactory simplifies the entire process. Generate, secure, manage, and extend REST APIs—then deploy anywhere (on-prem, Docker, Kubernetes). Explore connectors (databases, files such as Amazon S3, and remote HTTP/SOAP) and add custom logic with server-side scripting when needed.

FAQs

What is the best API tool?

It depends on your use case. For rapid API generation and management over existing data sources, DreamFactory is a strong choice due to instant API scaffolding, built-in auth/RBAC, and live docs. For enterprise gateway & governance, consider Apigee. For testing, evaluate Postman, Katalon, SoapUI, or REST-assured.

What are common API program types?

Open (public), Partner, Private (internal), and Composite APIs. These categories apply broadly across API programs and are not specific to REST.

Is Postman a REST API tool?

Yes. Postman is widely used to design, test, document, and automate REST APIs, with strong collaboration features.

What are API tools?

Software that helps teams create, test, document, manage, secure, and observe APIs—for example, generation platforms, gateways, testing suites, and documentation tools.

Is REST API a tool or language?

Neither. REST is an architectural style relying on HTTP methods and constraints (client-server, stateless, cacheable, layered system, etc.)