nowfound

Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Mocktail – Free, open-source mock API server with a built-in dashboard

Hi HN, I built the first version of Mocktail years ago. I recently came back to the project, and after a pretty substantial rebuild, v4 is now out. Mocktail is a free and open-source, self-hosted mock API server with a built-in dashboard and database, packaged as a single ~25 MB binary. You can run it locally or on your own infrastructure — no account or hosted service required. You can define endpoints and responses, generate realistic data per request, customize headers, status codes and latency, and inspect incoming requests in real time. With v4, I also added MCP support, so coding…

Mocktail is a free, open-source mock API server distributed as a single 25 MB binary for local or self-hosted use. It includes a built-in dashboard and database, allowing developers to define endpoints, generate… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes.

  1. 1

    Mockoon is the easiest and quickest way to run mock REST API servers. No remote deployment, no account required, free, open source and cross-platform.

    2017 · mockoon.com · its alternatives →

  2. 2MO
  3. 3

    Beautiful, cross-platform & open-source tools for debugging, testing and building with HTTP(S), on Windows, Linux & Mac.

    2019 · httptoolkit.tech · its alternatives →

  4. 4
    Mockaroo▲354

    A realistic data generator to test your app

    2015 · mockaroo.com · its alternatives →

  5. 5

    Generate custom data & API to build apps in less than 30s

    2021 · retool.com · its alternatives →

  6. 6
    Mockoon▲89

    Mock servers in seconds

    2017 · mockoon.com · its alternatives →

  7. 7MS
  8. 8
    Prism▲79

    Accelerate API development with realistic mock servers

    2023 · stoplight.io · its alternatives →

  9. 9
    Pollux▲82

    Fake json data & json server mock API generator with JWT

    2021 · mohammedal-rowad.github.io · its alternatives →

  10. 10

    Mock blocked APIs, passthrough ready routes, see live source

    Mar 2026 · mockphine.com · its alternatives →

  11. 11

    Instant mock REST & LLM APIs - free, no signup required

    Feb 2026 · mockapi.dog · its alternatives →

  12. 12
    Routebase▲106

    Design, mock, test, and document APIs from one living spec. Full test runner built in: suites, scenarios, ten auth schemes, CLI in CI. No OpenAPI needed.

    Jul 2026 · routebase.dev · its alternatives →

  13. 13

    Hi HN! I'm Ankit, the founder of Beeceptor, a request mocking and intercepting tool. This time, I built something new to address a pain I’ve personally felt (and heard from dozens of QA, frontend, and platform teams): making OpenAPI specs actually useful during development. API contracts just sit around as docs often. What if you could 'activate' them, instantly have a realistic, hosted mock server-with contract validation, smart test data, and early usage? So I made _Mockaroo for OpenAPI_, but with brains. It spins up a hosted mock server from your spec in one click. It: - Generates…

    2025 · beeceptor.com · its alternatives →

  14. 14

    A HTTP-based API simulator to assist parallel development 🛠️

    2018 · mocklets.com · its alternatives →

  15. 15CM
  16. 16

    Hi HN, I built this after using Requestly, Mokku, Mockiato, Tweak, and Mockoon. Each one either paywalled the features I actually needed, required a separate server running on my machine, or just didn't fit the way I work. The browser is already open. DevTools is already open. I wanted the mocking to live there too, not in a separate app I have to remember to start. So roughly a month ago, I started building my own tools. It intercepts network requests at the browser level and lets you swap the response, status code, headers, body without touching your code or spinning up anything.…

    Feb 2026 · mockstudio.app · its alternatives →

  17. 17

    Mock your entire API in minutes.

    2019 · mockadillo.com · its alternatives →

  18. 18

    A rapid prototyping, design collaboration and handoff tool

    2018 · its alternatives →

  19. 19

    Effortless mock APIs for seamless testing & prototyping

    2024 · its alternatives →

  20. 20

    GUI approach to generating realistic mock JSON data

    2022 · mockturtle.net · its alternatives →

  21. 21

    Free and open source fake API for testing and prototyping

    Nov 2025 · jsoning.com · its alternatives →

  22. 22

    Mock REST endpoints in seconds. Test without backend delays. Built for developers who need reliable mock data now.

    2017 · mockrest.com · its alternatives →

  23. 23

    Mockwave

    2025 · mockwave.io · its alternatives →

  24. 24

    Free online api mocking tool | mock api generator

    2025 · fakeurl.dev · its alternatives →

Also compare

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →