Hurl vs Keploy
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Hurl | Keploy |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 95 · Excellent |
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Rust | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 19,214 | ★ 18,479 |
| First released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Postman, Insomnia | Postman |
What are Hurl and Keploy?
Hurl
Hurl is an open-source command-line tool that runs HTTP requests defined in a simple plain text format. It is used for API testing and can be integrated into self-hosted CI pipelines.
- Plain text request files
- Built-in assertions
- CI friendly
- Chained requests
Keploy
Keploy is an open-source testing toolkit that records API calls and database interactions to automatically generate test cases and data mocks. It is self-hosted as a CLI and server for backend testing.
- Tests from real traffic
- Auto-generated mocks
- CI integration
- No code changes needed
Hurl vs Keploy: key differences
Hurl is written in Rust, while Keploy is built with Go. Hurl is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Keploy. Hurl is the more established project (first released 2020), while Keploy arrived in 2022. Keploy lists first-class Docker deployment; Hurl does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Hurl if…
- Plain text request files
- CI-friendly and fast
- Built-in assertions
Watch out for
- No graphical interface
- Curl-style learning curve
Choose Keploy if…
- Tests from real traffic
- Automatic mock generation
- CI-friendly CLI
Watch out for
- Linux-centric capture
- Setup varies per stack
Frequently asked questions
Is Hurl or Keploy better?
Hurl is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Keploy if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Hurl and Keploy free and open-source?
Yes. Hurl is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Keploy under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hurl and Keploy with Docker?
Hurl: check the project docs for container support. Keploy: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Hurl or Keploy?
Hurl has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Keploy. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.