Gud API vs Bruno
Bruno is an open-source, offline-first API client that stores collections as plain text files you can commit to git. It's a solid choice if you want version-controlled API definitions in your repo.
Gud API shares Bruno's offline-first philosophy but takes a different approach: instead of a separate desktop app, it lives in your code editor (Cursor, VS Code, and more). Collections are still local files, and sync is optional.
At a glance
| Gud API | Bruno | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Any code editor (Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, VSCodium…) | Desktop app (Electron-based) |
| Offline-first | ✅ | ✅ |
| Account required | No | No |
| Storage format | JSON files | Plain .bru files (git-friendly) |
| Open source | Source-available | Yes (MIT) |
| AI agent integration (MCP) | ✅ agents create + run + capture via MCP | Files are agent-writable, but no protocol/execution |
| Free tier | Unlimited collections, 1 environment | Full (no limits) |
| Paid entry price | £4/mo or £29 lifetime | Free core, $19/user/mo Gold (teams) |
| Team plan | £8/seat/mo (admin pays, members free) | $19/user/mo per member |
| Runs inside your editor | ✅ | ❌ (separate app) |
| cURL import | ✅ Paste in URL bar | ✅ |
| GraphQL | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cloud sync | ✅ (Pro) | Limited (Gold) |
| Shared collections | ✅ with read/write permissions | Git-based |
| JSON5 body support | ✅ | ❌ |
Where Gud API wins
1. Lives in your editor
Gud API is an editor extension. You don't switch windows to test an endpoint. Bruno is a separate desktop app — you context-switch every time.
2. Cloud sync option
Gud API's Pro tier syncs collections and environments across your machines automatically (optional — you can stay fully local if you prefer). Bruno's Gold plan adds some cloud features but the core model is git-based sharing.
3. Team sharing without git
Bruno's team workflow is "commit collection files to a shared git repo." That works but requires everyone on your team to be comfortable with git for non-code assets. Gud API's shared collections sync automatically across team members — invite someone with a code and they see the collection immediately.
4. Admin-pays-for-seats team pricing
Bruno Gold is $19/user/mo — every team member pays. Gud API's Team plan is £8/seat/mo paid by the admin only; team members don't need their own license.
5. Lifetime pricing
£29 one-time for Pro. Bruno is free core + subscription for teams — no lifetime option.
6. Familiar editor UX
Everything uses your editor's command palette, theme, keyboard shortcuts, and settings. Bruno has its own UI that you need to learn separately.
7. JSON5 & relaxed JSON
Gud API accepts JSON with comments, trailing commas, unquoted keys, and auto-fixes missing commas. Bruno requires strict JSON.
8. Response timing sparkline
Saved requests in Gud API show a tiny chart of recent response times — green for fast, red for slow. Bruno doesn't have this.
9. AI agents build collections for you
Both tools store collections as plain files an agent could write. But Gud API ships an MCP server so an AI coding agent (Claude Code, Cursor) can actually create requests, run them, and capture responses — then the collection appears live in your editor's sidebar. Bruno's files are agent-writable, but there's no protocol, no request execution, and no response capture. This is the one place Gud API is meaningfully ahead of Bruno's git-native model.
Where Bruno wins
Bruno's approach has real advantages:
- Fully open source (MIT license) — you can fork it, audit every line, and self-host
- Git-native — collections are plain text files that version-control naturally with your code
.brufile format — human-readable, diff-friendly in code review- No subscription for core — the free version is fully functional for solo use
- Runs outside a code editor too (standalone app, important if your team uses mixed editors)
- Strong community around open source — more contributors, transparent roadmap
If these are priorities, Bruno is a strong choice.
Where the two approaches diverge
Bruno's philosophy: API collections are code. Store them in your repo, review them in pull requests, merge them with branches.
Gud API's philosophy: API collections are working files. Store them locally, sync them via the cloud if you want, share them with your team via invite codes.
Both approaches are valid. Which one fits depends on your team:
- Pick Bruno if your team reviews API definitions in pull requests and wants collection history in git
- Pick Gud API if your team prefers a shared cloud-synced workspace and lives in your editor (Cursor, VS Code, and more)
Migrating from Bruno to Gud API
There's no one-click migration (Bruno's .bru format is unique), but the process is quick for small collections:
- In Bruno, select a request → Generate Code → cURL
- In Gud API, paste the cURL into the URL bar — method, URL, headers, body all auto-fill
- Save into a Gud API collection
- Repeat for each request, or import one request at a time
For large collections (50+ requests), export each Bruno request as cURL and import in batches.
Environment variables: copy-paste from Bruno's environment UI into Gud API's environment editor.
When to stay with Bruno
Stay with Bruno if:
- Open source matters to you
- Your team reviews API changes in pull requests
- You want plain-text collection files committed to your repo
- You don't use a VS Code-compatible editor (or your team uses mixed editors)
When to try Gud API
Try Gud API if:
- You live in your editor (Cursor, VS Code, and more) and want your API client there too
- You want cloud sync and team shared collections without managing git
- You want a lifetime purchase option
- You prefer automatic syncing over git-based workflows
Gud API is free to install. No account needed.