How to intercept HTTPS traffic from a mobile app with Requestly?

Use the Requestly desktop application to proxy traffic from mobile devices, similar to Charles Proxy. Install the app, configure proxy settings on your mobile device, and capture/modify requests directly from the desktop interface.

Requestly vs Charles Proxy: which is better for debugging?

Requestly offers a local-first, open-source alternative with built-in API client features, making it ideal for integrated workflows. Charles Proxy is more established for pure interception but lacks Requestly's mocking and client capabilities without additional tools.

Can Requestly mock GraphQL APIs?

Yes, Requestly supports GraphQL API mocking by targeting queries and operation names. You can override GraphQL requests and responses dynamically using JavaScript rules, as mentioned in the API Mocking section.

How to import Postman collections into Requestly?

Use the 1-click import feature in Requestly: navigate to the import section, select Postman, and upload your collection file. This migrates requests, environments, and variables seamlessly into local workspaces.

Is Requestly free for team collaboration?

Requestly is open-source and free, with local workspaces using Git or cloud sync for collaboration. Team workspaces use Requestly's sync engine but may have limitations compared to paid cloud tools like Postman for real-time features.

How to mock APIs in Cypress tests with Requestly?

Integrate Requestly by recording API sessions or creating HTTP rules to override responses. Use the bulk mocking feature to serve recorded mocks, enabling reliable API simulation in Cypress CI pipelines without backend dependencies.

Requestly — Local-First API Client & Interceptor

What is Requestly?

Requestly is a free and open-source tool that functions as both an API client and an HTTP interceptor. It allows developers to build, test, intercept, modify, and mock HTTP requests and responses, streamlining API development and frontend testing workflows. It solves the problem of fragmented tooling by combining client and interceptor capabilities into a single, local-first application.

Target Audience

Frontend and backend developers, QA engineers, and DevOps professionals who need to test, debug, and mock APIs during development or in CI/CD pipelines.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Requestly for its local-first approach that prioritizes data privacy, its ability to replace multiple paid tools (like Postman and Charles Proxy), and its comprehensive feature set for API mocking and HTTP interception in one integrated solution.

Overview

Community hub for Requestly API Client — bugs, feature requests, and roadmap. The privacy-first Postman alternative.

Use Cases

Best For

Testing and debugging REST APIs with a local-first client
Intercepting and modifying HTTPS traffic from browsers and mobile apps
Mocking API responses to build frontends without backend dependencies
Importing existing configurations from Postman or Charles Proxy
Running API mocks in e2e tests with Cypress or Playwright
Managing API environments and variables across development stages

Not Ideal For

Teams requiring real-time, cloud-native collaboration with advanced user permissions
Developers heavily invested in tools with incomplete import support like Insomnia or Bruno
Environments with strict policies blocking browser extensions or desktop app installations
Projects needing extensive third-party plugin ecosystems beyond core API tooling

Pros & Cons

Pros

Local-first Data Control

Stores all API data directly on disk with Git integration, offering full privacy and ownership without mandatory cloud reliance, as highlighted in the Local Workspaces section.

Unified Toolchain Integration

Combines REST client, HTTP interceptor, and mocking in one application, reducing the need for separate tools like Postman and Charles Proxy for end-to-end API workflows.

Easy Migration Paths

Supports 1-click imports from popular tools such as Postman and Charles Proxy, easing transition with preserved configurations and reducing setup friction.

Flexible API Mocking

Enables local and cloud-based mocks with dynamic overrides using JavaScript, plus integration with e2e testing frameworks like Cypress and Playwright for CI pipelines.

Cons

Fragmented Codebase Structure

The project is split across multiple repositories (browser extension, UI app, desktop app, etc.), complicating contributions and holistic understanding for developers.

Limited Import Coverage

Imports for tools like Insomnia and Bruno are marked 'Coming Soon' in the README, indicating gaps in migration support for users of those platforms.

Browser Extension Dependency

Core HTTP interception features require installing Chrome/Firefox/Edge extensions, which may be blocked in locked-down corporate environments or introduce performance overhead.

Open Source Alternative To

Requestly is an open-source alternative to the following products:

C

Charles Proxy

Charles Proxy is the same as Charles, a web debugging proxy tool that captures and analyzes network traffic to help developers debug API calls, inspect requests, and test performance.

Insomnia

Insomnia is an open-source API client for designing, testing, and debugging REST, GraphQL, and other web APIs with a collaborative interface.

Postman

Postman is a collaboration platform for API development that allows developers to design, test, and document APIs.

Requestly

What is Requestly?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Open Source Alternative To

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

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Requestly

What is Requestly?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Open Source Alternative To

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

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