Karate vs Hoppscotch
Verdict: Karate scores 9.8/10 against 8.9/10 for Hoppscotch on our data score for API testing tools.
Hoppscotch is cheaper to start: paid plans from $6 vs $8.33 per user/month on annual billing.
Both have a free plan.
Hoppscotch leads on 2 checks and Karate on 0; 6 are even, out of 8 checks (yes/no, price and seats) where we have data for both.
Choose Karate for engineering teams that want code-based API tests in CI without a per-user client fee. Choose Hoppscotch for teams that want a free, self-hostable API client with low per-user cloud pricing.
Scoreboard: 8 checks
| Check | Karate | Hoppscotch |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Even | Even |
| Free trial | Even | Even |
| Lower entry price (annual) | Leads | |
| Lower entry price (monthly) | Leads | |
| Smaller seat minimum | Even | Even |
| REST API testing | Even | Even |
| GraphQL testing | Even | Even |
| API mocking | Even | Even |
| Total | 0 | 2 |
At a glance
| Karate | Hoppscotch | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.8/10 (#2) | 8.9/10 (#6) |
| Best for | Engineering teams that want code-based API tests in CI without a per-user client fee | Teams that want a free, self-hostable API client with low per-user cloud pricing |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Paid from (annual) | $8.33/user/mo | $6/user/mo |
| Paid from (monthly) | $64/user/mo | $8/user/mo |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Minimum seats | 1 | 1 |
| Platforms | Open-source framework (JVM), IntelliJ and VS Code plugins, Xplorer desktop app | Cloud (SaaS), Self-hosted |
Features
| Tool | Score | REST API testing | GraphQL testing | Load testing | API mocking | CI/CD integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karate | 9.8/10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hoppscotch | 8.9/10 | Yes | Yes | Not confirmed | Yes | Not confirmed |
- Only Karate confirms: Load testing, CI/CD integration.
Pros and cons
Karate
Pros- Core framework is free and MIT-licensed, including mocks, Gatling performance tests and CI/CD use
- One framework covers API, UI and performance tests
- Paid tiers are listed per user with public prices
- Async protocols (Kafka, gRPC, WebSocket) in CI/CD need an Enterprise runtime license
- Tests are written in Karate's own DSL, so non-coders need the IDE or Xplorer tooling
- Enterprise trials require a vetted, scoped request rather than self-serve sign-up
Hoppscotch
Pros- Free plan covers REST, GraphQL and realtime testing with scripts and a collection runner
- Can be self-hosted from the GitHub repository
- Cloud plans are low per-user prices with monthly or annual billing
- API mocking is only on the paid Business plan
- SAML SSO, SCIM and audit logs require Enterprise
- No load testing mentioned
Frequently asked questions
How do Karate and Hoppscotch compare on features and price?
Hoppscotch leads on 2 checks and Karate on 0; 6 are even, out of 8 checks (yes/no, price and seats) where we have data for both.
Is Karate better than Hoppscotch?
Karate scores 9.8/10 against 8.9/10 for Hoppscotch on our data score for API testing tools. Karate is best for engineering teams that want code-based API tests in CI without a per-user client fee; Hoppscotch is best for teams that want a free, self-hostable API client with low per-user cloud pricing.
Which is cheaper, Karate or Hoppscotch?
Hoppscotch is cheaper, starting at $6 vs $8.33 per user/month on annual billing.
Do Karate and Hoppscotch have free plans?
Karate: yes. Hoppscotch: yes.
See the full API Testing Tools ranking for other options.