Postman vs SoapUI
Go beyond SOAP-only testing. Build, test, and manage your entire API ecosystem with Postman's advanced tools and cloud-native collaboration.
Why Postman?
SoapUI was built for a desktop-first world centered on SOAP, but APIs have evolved. While SoapUI has added support for REST and GraphQL, many modern protocols and cloud collaboration features still require technical workarounds or paid upgrades. Sticking with SoapUI means dealing with Java dependencies, local installs, and outdated workflows. Along with powerful SOAP capabilities, Postman delivers seamless support for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSockets in a modern, cloud-native platform. Choosing Postman means faster delivery, easier scaling, and frictionless collaboration for the entire API lifecycle.
Buy cheap, buy risk. Or buy once and unlock real business value at scale.

Modern protocol support
Can you test all your APIs (SOAP, REST, GraphQL, gRPC) in one place?
Native support for SOAP, REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, and more
Import WSDL and generate collections
Schema validation across all protocols
Unified and visual workflow for mixed API architectures in one place
Primarily SOAP-focused with some REST support
No native GraphQL or gRPC support
Separate workflows for different protocols
Limited schema validation beyond SOAP
Performance & load testing
Can you validate performance without complex setup and separate tools?
Built-in performance testing through the Collection Runner & features that simulate parallel virtual users
Visual, real-time metrics such as average response time, error rate, throughput, and customizable graphs
Cloud-accessible reports and dashboards for monitoring and alerting
CI/CD pipeline integration for automated testing
Load generation is primarily desktop-based
Advanced load testing requires separate licensing (ReadyAPI Pro)
Manual result interpretation and reporting
No integrated reporting dashboards
Developer experience
Can your team adopt and scale testing practices quickly?
Intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
Extensive documentation and community support
Pre-built templates, collections, and examples
Automatic cloud-based updates & maintenance
Steep learning curve with complex interface
Java dependencies and version management
Limited community resources
Manual updates and maintenance overhead
Cloud-native collaboration
Can your team work together seamlessly without software barriers?
Web, desktop, and mobile access from anywhere
Real-time collaboration with comments, versioning, and activity history in shared workspaces
Instant sharing without installation requirements
Cloud sync keeps everyone updated automatically across devices and platforms
Java desktop application only
Manual sharing of projects through exports and imports
No file sync or cloud workspaces
Each team member needs local installation and setup
No real-time collaboration features
Integrated API lifecycle
Do your tests, docs, and specs stay connected as APIs evolve?
Connected workflow across design, testing, documentation, and monitoring
Auto-generated documentation that updates with spec and collection changes
Bidirectional sync between OpenAPI/Swagger specs and tests
Editing a collection updates documentation, and vice versa
Built-in mock servers, contract testing, and monitors support design-first iteration and continuous validation
Testing-focused with no lifecycle integration
Manual documentation creation and updates
No automatic connection between specs and tests
Limited mocking capabilities
Advanced mocking requires ReadyAPI upgrade
Enterprise security
Can you enforce standards and maintain compliance at scale?
Encrypted Postman Local Vault for secrets management
Sensitive data is always protected with industry-leading encryption
Role-based access control (RBAC) with granular permissions, audit logs tracking user & team activity, and two-factor authentication (2FA)
SOC 2 Type II & SOC 3, GDPR, HIPAA (offered through BAAs), PCI DSS, CCPA, and CSA STAR compliance certifications
Configurable policy enforcement, security vulnerability scanning, and governance dashboards for visibility & risk management
Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) encryption options
Local storage for credentials, which may expose security risks if mishandled
No centralized governance or audit capabilities
Provides security testing tools such as vulnerability scans, but does not offer enterprise-grade policy enforcement
No official compliance certifications
Challenge: SoapUI was originally designed for SOAP services in an era with less diverse API protocols. Today's API landscape has evolved to include REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, and hybrid architectures, which present challenges for teams relying on SoapUI. Users often face protocol switching difficulties, need multiple tools for full API coverage, and struggle to maintain consistent testing workflows across API types.
Why Postman: Postman provides native and comprehensive support for modern protocols (REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets) while maintaining full SOAP compatibility. It allows teams to test all these protocols using consistent workflows, shared environments, and unified reporting. Postman's schema validation supports multiple protocols, reducing the need for protocol-specific expertise and helping ensure reliability.
Postman enables:
- Native SOAP/WSDL import with automatic collection generation
- REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket testing within the same workspace
- Unified schema validation tools that work across protocols
- Consistent authentication and environment management
- Protocol-agnostic CI/CD integration with CLI tools
- Cross-protocol contract testing and monitoring to maintain API quality
SoapUI considerations: SoapUI is primarily focused on SOAP and offers strong WSDL support, but it only has basic capabilities for REST. It lacks native support for modern protocols like GraphQL and gRPC, which require external tools or integration workarounds. Multiple tools or plugins are required to effectively cover all API testing needs. Testing approaches can be inconsistent across protocols, leading to workflow disruption when switching between API types. Protocol switching often breaks workflow continuity, impacting team efficiency.
Postman is trusted by over 500,000 companies, 40 million users, and 98% of the Fortune 500
Industry recognition
Don't just take our word for it—learn why G2 recognized Postman as the #1 API platform in 2024.
Why teams choose Postman
These are the most common questions we hear from teams evaluating Postman as a modern API platform:
Is Postman more than just an API testing tool?
For developers, yes. Postman makes it easy to test SOAP services, REST APIs, and modern protocols like GraphQL and gRPC without switching tools. You get design, testing, documentation, and monitoring in one connected workflow. At the team level, Postman extends collaboration across the entire API lifecycle with shared workspaces, real-time comments, and governance features that SoapUI cannot match.
Why choose Postman if SoapUI is established for SOAP testing?
While SoapUI handles basic SOAP testing, modern API development requires more. Postman provides full SOAP support plus REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and cloud-native collaboration that scales with your team. You eliminate Java dependencies, desktop limitations, and tool switching while gaining real-time collaboration, automatic documentation, and enterprise governance.
How does Postman handle SOAP testing compared to SoapUI?
Postman imports WSDL files and automatically generates test collections just like SoapUI, but with better usability and collaboration features. You get the same SOAP validation capabilities plus integration with REST and GraphQL testing in unified workflows. Teams benefit from cloud sync, shared environments, and governance features that SoapUI's desktop approach cannot provide.
What about performance and load testing?
Postman includes built-in performance testing with cloud-based load generation and visual reporting. Unlike SoapUI Pro's desktop-limited approach, Postman scales automatically and integrates performance testing into the same workflows used for functional testing. Teams get comprehensive testing capabilities without separate licensing or complex setup requirements.
Debunking common myths
SoapUI may make claims about Postman. Here are the facts:
Myth: SoapUI is more powerful for complex SOAP testing.
Fact: While SoapUI offers comprehensive SOAP features, Postman provides the same capabilities with better usability and modern workflows. Postman imports WSDL files, validates schemas, and handles complex SOAP operations while adding collaboration, documentation, and governance features that SoapUI lacks. The power is comparable, but the experience is significantly better.
Myth: Postman is too simple for enterprise SOAP testing.
Fact: Postman supports enterprise-grade SOAP testing with schema validation, complex authentication, and comprehensive reporting. Enterprise features like encrypted credential management, audit logs, and compliance certifications exceed what SoapUI provides. Teams get enterprise capabilities without sacrificing the simplicity that accelerates adoption.
Myth: SoapUI Pro's load testing is superior.
Fact: While SoapUI Pro offers load testing, it's desktop-limited and requires complex setup. Postman's cloud-based performance testing scales automatically and integrates with functional testing workflows. Visual reporting and collaborative analysis make results more accessible to entire teams, not just technical specialists.
Myth: Migration from SoapUI is too complex.
Fact: Postman can import SoapUI projects and WSDL files directly. Most teams find migration straightforward and immediately benefit from improved collaboration and reduced Java dependency management. Postman's learning resources and support team help ensure smooth transitions without losing existing test investments.
What evaluation teams want to know
Developer workflow frequently asks questions
Can Postman replace our SoapUI testing completely?
Yes. Postman handles all SOAP testing requirements, including WSDL import, schema validation, and complex authentication, while adding modern protocols and collaboration features. Teams typically find Postman more capable for comprehensive API testing across their entire portfolio, not just SOAP services.
Does Postman work offline like SoapUI?
Yes. Postman's desktop application provides full offline functionality for testing while offering cloud sync when connectivity returns. Unlike SoapUI's Java-only approach, you also get web and mobile access options that scale with your team's work patterns and preferences.
How does Postman handle complex SOAP authentication?
Postman supports common SOAP authentication methods like Basic Auth, OAuth, and custom headers. While it doesn't automate WS-Security token generation or certificate management, users can manually add WS-Security headers in requests. For SAML, Postman supports SSO login but requires manual handling in SOAP messages. Its encrypted Vault securely manages credentials locally with strong encryption, reducing security risks compared to SoapUI's local plaintext storage. SoapUI offers more built-in WS-Security tooling, but Postman provides flexible authentication and superior credential security through Vault.
Can we integrate Postman with our existing CI/CD pipelines?
Yes, Postman integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines using the Postman CLI, Newman, and APIs. It enables running collections and tests automatically during builds, providing consistent results across local development and automated environments. Unlike SoapUI’s desktop-bound setup that requires additional configuration, Postman scales easily from individual developer use to enterprise automation, supporting popular CI/CD tools without needing architecture changes.
Ecosystem & extensibility
How does Postman compare to SoapUI's extensibility?
Postman offers extensive extensibility through its API, webhooks, and integrations with popular tools like Jira, Slack, and GitHub, enabling flexible automation and streamlined workflows. While SoapUI supports Groovy scripting for deep customization, Postman's JavaScript-based scripting and cloud-native architecture provide broader integration options that align well with modern development environments.
Can Postman work with our existing SOAP infrastructure?
Absolutely. Postman imports existing WSDL files and integrates with SOAP services without requiring infrastructure changes. You gain modern testing capabilities while maintaining compatibility with existing systems and processes.
Does Postman support SOAP service mocking?
Yes. Postman can create mock SOAP services from WSDL specifications, enabling early testing and stakeholder validation. This capability extends beyond SoapUI's testing focus to support the entire development lifecycle.
Security
Is Postman Free safe for enterprise use?
Postman offers extensive extensibility through its API, webhooks, and integrations with popular tools like Jira, Slack, and GitHub, enabling flexible automation and streamlined workflows. While SoapUI supports Groovy scripting for deep customization, Postman's JavaScript-based scripting and cloud-native architecture provide broader integration options that align well with modern development environments.
Absolutely. Postman's platform is built with a secure-by-design philosophy that security leaders can trust. Our mission is to empower our customers with the controls, visibility, and data ownership necessary to confidently secure their APIs. Our responsibility is to ensure enterprise-grade security is embedded at every layer of the platform.
- Cloud-first architecture: Postman has chosen a cloud-first architecture because API development is inherently collaborative, spanning teams, departments, and partners. Built on AWS's hardened infrastructure, Postman's cloud-native platform empowers seamless collaboration while ensuring APIs remain performant, resilient, and secure at scale.
- Integrated throughout the entire development cycle: At Postman, security is integrated throughout the entire development lifecycle. To accomplish this, we work closely with trusted partners like Okta and AWS to enhance our posture across identity, cloud infrastructure, and data protection. Regular third-party penetration testing is conducted against both our cloud platform and endpoint agent to proactively surface vulnerabilities. And, through rigorous, ongoing compliance efforts, we align with global standards to meet the evolving needs of our users—no matter their size or industry.
- Secrets stay safe: Postman has several methods for managing secrets. It can be done locally through the Postman Local Vault, which will store credentials locally and never syncs them to the cloud, ensuring that even workspace admins and teammates can't access them. The vault clears on sign-out, preventing data from being compromised if your device or account is ever at risk.
- Proactive scanning: Postman Secret Scanner proactively scans your private and public workspaces, documentation, and GitHub/GitLab repos for exposed secrets. If something sensitive is detected, Postman alerts you immediately. Postman also supports variable masking for risks associated with screen sharing and Postman Local Vault for ensuring credentials don't leave your machine. And before any collection is published or made visible in a public workspace, the Postman Secret Scanner will detect, redact, and notify the admin of any sensitive values such as API tokens, credentials, or private keys.
Learn more about how Postman Free is safe here.
Support & success
What migration support does Postman provide?
Postman offers comprehensive migration assistance including project imports, training resources, and dedicated support for enterprise customers. Most teams complete SoapUI migrations quickly while immediately benefiting from improved collaboration and reduced operational overhead.
How does Postman's support compare to SoapUI's?
Postman provides dedicated customer success and technical support with enterprise SLAs, compared to SoapUI's community-based support model. Postman Academy and training programs ensure rapid adoption and ongoing success across entire organizations.
What training resources are available?
Postman Academy offers structured learning paths for SOAP testing, API development, and team collaboration. Unlike SoapUI's limited documentation, Postman provides comprehensive resources that accelerate adoption and reduce the learning curve for new team members.
Still have questions?
Talk to our team and see why teams are choosing Postman over SoapUI.