SoapUI

Overview

SoapUI is an open-source testing tool for REST, SOAP, and GraphQL services, with JMS support. It suits developers and testers who need to validate service behavior and automate checks without paying for the core tool. Its breadth is useful, but the open-source edition is positioned for basic functional and performance testing, not the expanded security testing associated with ReadyAPI.

SoapUI brings test creation, mocking, and command-line execution together, so it can cover more than request-and-response checks. It is a better fit for service testing than for readers who only need an API client.

Explore API Testing Tools, Integration Testing Tools, and API clients for related categories.

Key features

Functional and regression testing

Drag-and-drop test creation, assertions, and data-driven tests let teams build repeatable checks across different inputs. That combination is useful for regression work, where a service change needs to be checked against expected behavior rather than just queried manually.

Mocking and protocol support

SoapUI can generate service mocks from WSDL and mock SOAP and REST APIs. Its protocol coverage also includes REST, SOAP/WSDL, GraphQL, and JMS, making it relevant to teams whose service landscape extends beyond a single API style.

Performance, security, and automation

Load testing extends functional tests and can be run from command-line tools. SoapUI also supports configuration of incoming and outgoing WS-Security, including encryption, signatures, SAML, keystores, and truststores. However, broader security testing is associated with ReadyAPI; SoapUI Open Source is described for basic functional and performance work.

For automation, SoapUI names Maven, Hudson, Bamboo, JUnit, and Ant integrations, and can run from other CI tools. Command-line automation and CI/CD integration make it a practical choice for teams that want API checks in build workflows, though the stated open-source scope remains basic for performance testing.

Pricing

SoapUI Open Source

SoapUI is free, and the Open Source plan includes REST, SOAP, and GraphQL API testing, functional and regression testing, API mocking, and command-line automation. It is the natural starting point for individual developers or teams that need those capabilities without a software fee. There is no paid tier described for SoapUI itself; readers who need the expanded security-testing capabilities should consider ReadyAPI.

Platforms

SoapUI is cross-platform for Windows, Mac, and Linux/Unix. It is also self-hosted, which suits teams that prefer to run the tool within their own environment.

Who it's for

Developers and testers starting API testing are the clearest audience. SoapUI is particularly suited to teams that need functional and regression checks, WSDL-based mocks, protocol breadth, or command-line and CI integration in one free tool. It is less suited to buyers whose priority is expanded security testing, for which ReadyAPI is the associated product.

Pros and cons

• Broad service coverage: REST, SOAP/WSDL, GraphQL, and JMS support makes it useful across varied API and messaging work.
• Testing beyond manual requests: Functional and regression tests, assertions, data-driven inputs, and load-test extensions support repeatable validation.
• Automation-ready: Command-line runs and named CI and build-tool integrations can bring checks into established workflows.
• Security scope has a boundary: WS-Security configuration is supported, but expanded security testing is associated with ReadyAPI rather than the open-source edition.

Alternatives

• Postman is a freemium alternative with a free plan that includes 50 AI credits, an API client and core tools, specs and mock servers, Native Git, and Collection Runner.
• Apidog offers a time-unlimited free plan for four users, making it an option for teams that want a free tier with a stated seat limit.
• Insomnia has a free Essentials plan with Git Sync projects for three users and 1,000 mock-server requests per month.
• Bruno has a free open-source plan with two workspaces, five OpenAPI syncs per month, and community support.
• Testfully offers a free Developer Edition with one offline and one cloud workspace and invitations for up to five users per workspace.
• Hoppscotch has a free plan for REST, GraphQL, and realtime API testing, with a personal workspace, collections, environments, and pre-request scripts.
• Hurl is a free open-source command-line tool with no paid plans stated.
• OpenReq is free and open source, with a self-hosted web application and desktop options.

Verdict

Choose SoapUI if you are a developer or tester who needs a free, cross-platform tool for functional and regression API testing, mocking, and command-line automation across several protocols. Its main advantage is how much service-testing work it brings into one open-source product. Look elsewhere if expanded security testing is central to your requirements; SoapUI’s open-source scope is basic functional and performance testing.