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API Request Tester

Test REST APIs directly in your browser. Send GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE requests with custom headers, query params, JSON body, auth tokens and see full responses instantly.

All HTTP MethodsAuth HelperJSON Tree ViewResponse SearchcURL ExportSave CollectionsRequest HistoryEnv Variables
Presets:

Query parameters appended to the URL. Use {{varName}} for environment variables.

Response
📡
Ready to send

Enter a URL above and click Send to make an API request. Try one of the presets to get started instantly.

cURL Preview
curl -X GET \
  "https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts?_limit=5"
  -H "Accept: application/json" \

⚠️ About Browser CORS Limitations

Browsers enforce CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) security policy which may block requests to APIs that don't explicitly allow browser access. If you see a CORS error, the API still works it just can't be called from a browser page.

Solution: Use the generated cURL command in your terminal, or test APIs that support CORS (like JSONPlaceholder, Open-Meteo, etc.). APIs you control can add Access-Control-Allow-Origin: * header to allow browser access.

🔒 Privacy & Security

All requests are sent directly from your browser to the target API no data passes through TOOLBeans servers. Saved collections and history are stored only in your browser's localStorage and never uploaded anywhere. Never enter production secrets, passwords or API keys you wouldn't share with the network between you and the target server.

Free Online API Request Tester Test REST APIs Without Postman

The TOOLBeans API Request Tester is a free, browser-based HTTP client that lets you send requests to any REST API and inspect the response without installing software, creating an account, or paying for a subscription. It is built for developers, QA engineers, students and anyone who needs to quickly check whether an API endpoint behaves the way they expect. Because it runs entirely in your browser, there is nothing to download and nothing to configure you open the page, type a URL, and click Send.

Traditional API clients like Postman, Insomnia or Thunder Client are powerful, but they require installation, take up disk space, and increasingly push you toward signing in and syncing your data to the cloud. For the most common day-to-day task "send a request and look at the JSON that comes back" that is far more friction than necessary. This tool strips the workflow down to its essentials while still supporting the features that matter: every HTTP method, authentication, custom headers, query parameters, request bodies, a searchable JSON response viewer, cURL export, saved collections and environment variables.

Everything happens client-side. Your requests go directly from your browser to the API you are testing, and your saved requests and history live only in your browser's local storage. Nothing is ever uploaded to TOOLBeans servers, which means you can test internal or sensitive endpoints with confidence that the request and its data are not passing through a third party.

How to Test an API Request Step by Step

1
Choose a method and enter the URL

Pick the HTTP method (GET to read data, POST to create, PUT or PATCH to update, DELETE to remove) from the dropdown, then paste your endpoint URL into the address bar. You can type a bare domain and the tool adds https:// automatically.

2
Add query parameters or headers

Open the Params tab to append key-value query parameters to the URL, or the Headers tab to send custom headers such as Accept or Content-Type. A live preview shows the final URL as you type, and each row can be toggled on or off without deleting it.

3
Set authentication if required

In the Auth tab, choose Bearer Token for JWT or OAuth tokens, Basic Auth for username and password (automatically base64-encoded), or API Key to send a key in a custom header. The correct Authorization header is built for you.

4
Add a request body for writes

For POST, PUT and PATCH requests, open the Body tab and choose JSON, form-url-encoded or raw text. The JSON editor validates your syntax in real time and shows a green check when the body is valid.

5
Send and read the response

Click Send, or press Enter in the URL bar. The response appears with its status code, response time and size. Explore nested JSON in the collapsible tree view, search keys and values, switch to raw view, or copy and download the body.

6
Save, reuse and export

Save the request to a collection for later, let history track recent calls automatically, define environment variables like {{baseUrl}} for reuse, and export any request as a ready-to-run cURL command for your terminal or documentation.

Why Use a Browser-Based API Tester?

Zero setup

No download, no install, no account. Open the page and start testing in seconds. Perfect for quick checks where launching a heavy desktop app would be overkill.

🔒
Private by design

Requests go straight from your browser to the API. Collections and history stay in local storage. Nothing touches our servers, so sensitive endpoints stay sensitive.

🌳
Readable responses

The collapsible JSON tree makes deeply nested API payloads easy to navigate, and the built-in search jumps straight to the key or value you need in a large response.

🔁
Reproducible

One-click cURL export turns any request into a terminal command you can paste into scripts, share with teammates, or drop into documentation and bug reports.

💾
Reusable

Save frequently used requests to collections and define environment variables once, then reuse them across every request with {{variable}} syntax.

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Completely free

No paid tiers, no request limits, no watermark. Every feature is available to everyone, forever, with no sign-up required.

Understanding HTTP Methods

REST APIs use HTTP methods (also called verbs) to describe what action you want to perform on a resource. Choosing the right method is the first step in testing any endpoint correctly.

MethodPurposeHas body?Idempotent?
GETRetrieve data from a resource without changing itNoYes
POSTCreate a new resource or submit dataYesNo
PUTReplace a resource entirely with new dataYesYes
PATCHUpdate part of an existing resourceYesNo
DELETERemove a resourceSometimesYes
HEADLike GET but returns only headers, no bodyNoYes
OPTIONSDiscover which methods and headers an endpoint allowsNoYes

HTTP Status Code Quick Reference

When you send a request, the API replies with a three-digit status code that tells you what happened. The first digit defines the category. Knowing these makes debugging far faster.

2xx Success
200 OKRequest succeeded
201 CreatedNew resource was created
204 No ContentSuccess with no response body
3xx Redirection
301 Moved PermanentlyResource has a new permanent URL
302 FoundTemporary redirect
304 Not ModifiedCached version is still valid
4xx Client Error
400 Bad RequestThe request was malformed
401 UnauthorizedAuthentication is required or failed
403 ForbiddenAuthenticated but not allowed
404 Not FoundThe resource does not exist
429 Too Many RequestsRate limit exceeded
5xx Server Error
500 Internal Server ErrorSomething broke on the server
502 Bad GatewayInvalid response from upstream
503 Service UnavailableServer is overloaded or down

API Authentication Types Explained

Most real-world APIs require some form of authentication to prove who you are. This tool supports the three most common methods and builds the correct header for you automatically.

Bearer Token

The most common method for modern APIs. You send a token (often a JWT) in the Authorization header as "Bearer <token>". The server validates the token to identify you. Used by OAuth 2.0, Firebase, Auth0 and most SaaS APIs. Paste your token in the Auth tab and the header is added automatically.

Basic Authentication

A username and password are combined and base64-encoded into the Authorization header as "Basic <encoded>". Simple, but should only be used over HTTPS since base64 is encoding, not encryption. Common for internal tools, legacy systems and some webhooks.

API Key

A single secret string identifies your application. It can be sent in a custom header (like X-API-Key) or as a query parameter. Common for weather, maps and data APIs. This tool lets you place the key in any header name you choose.

Common Use Cases

Frontend development

Check the exact shape of the JSON an endpoint returns before wiring it into your React, Vue or Angular components.

Backend debugging

Confirm your own API returns the right status codes, headers and body for each method while you build it.

Learning APIs

Students and beginners can experiment with public APIs and see real requests and responses without any setup.

QA and testing

Manually verify endpoints, reproduce bugs, and export cURL commands to attach to bug reports.

Third-party integration

Explore an external API (payment, weather, maps, AI) and confirm your auth and parameters work before coding.

Documentation

Generate cURL examples for your API docs, or verify that documented endpoints behave as described.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this API tester completely free?+
Yes. The TOOLBeans API Request Tester is 100% free with no usage limits, no account, no signup and no credit card. Every feature, including all HTTP methods, authentication, collections, environment variables, search and cURL export, is available to everyone.
Do I need to install anything or create an account?+
No. The tool runs entirely in your web browser. There is nothing to download or install, and no sign-up is required. Just open the page and start sending requests.
Is it a good free alternative to Postman?+
For the most common API testing needs, sending requests with any method, authentication, headers, bodies, saving requests and exporting cURL, yes. It covers the everyday workflow without the install, account or sync that desktop clients now require. For advanced team features like automated test scripts, mock servers and shared workspaces, a dedicated desktop client may still be preferable.
Does the API tester support authentication?+
Yes. It supports Bearer Token authentication (for JWT and OAuth), HTTP Basic Auth with username and password, and API Key authentication in either a custom header or query parameter. The correct Authorization header is generated automatically.
Can I search inside a large JSON response?+
Yes. The response Body tab has a search box that highlights matching keys and values in the JSON tree and automatically expands the nodes that contain them. In raw view the search filters to only the lines that match, and the Headers tab is searchable too.
Can I save and reuse API requests?+
Yes. Save any request to a named collection and reload it any time. Request history also records your last 25 requests automatically with method, URL, status and response time, all stored in your browser.
What are environment variables for?+
Environment variables let you define reusable values such as a base URL or API key once, then reference them anywhere in the URL, headers or body using {{variableName}} syntax. This makes it easy to switch between, for example, a development and production server without editing every field.
Can I export my request as a cURL command?+
Yes. Every request can be exported as a cURL command with one click, including method, headers and body. This is ideal for running the same request in a terminal, adding it to a shell script, sharing it with a teammate, or pasting it into documentation or a bug report.
Why do I get a CORS or network error?+
Browsers enforce CORS, a security policy that lets a server decide which websites may call it from a browser. If the API you are testing does not send permissive CORS headers, the browser blocks the response even though the API itself is working. When this happens, use the generated cURL command in your terminal, which is not subject to CORS, or test an API that allows cross-origin requests.
Is my data safe and where are my requests sent?+
Your requests go directly from your browser to the target API and never pass through TOOLBeans servers. Saved collections, history and environment variables are stored only in your browser local storage and are never uploaded. That said, avoid entering real production secrets on any shared computer.
Does it support GraphQL?+
You can test GraphQL endpoints by sending a POST request with a JSON body containing your query, since GraphQL runs over HTTP. The tool does not yet have a dedicated GraphQL query builder, but the raw request workflow works for most GraphQL testing.
Which HTTP methods are supported?+
All of them: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD and OPTIONS. Request bodies are available for POST, PUT and PATCH.