Comparison
MockAPI vs Mockoon
Mockoon is a much-loved open-source desktop app for running mock APIs locally. MockAPI is a hosted platform: your mock is always online at a stable URL that teammates, CI, devices and AI agents can reach without anyone running a server.
At a glance
| Capability | MockAPI | Mockoon |
|---|---|---|
| Where the mock runs | Hosted, always-on HTTPS URL | Locally (desktop app / CLI); hosted via paid Cloud |
| Data generation | Model-driven, 140+ types, 60+ locales | Templating with fake-data helpers |
| Stateful CRUD | Built in | CRUD routes with data buckets |
| Scenarios per request | X-MockAPI-Scenario header, default scenario | Response rules and random/sequential responses |
| Rate limit simulation | Per-minute limits with 429 and X-RateLimit headers | Configure manually with rules |
| GraphQL | Schema-based GraphQL endpoints | REST-focused |
| Request logs | Hosted, searchable logs with retention | Local logs in the app |
| Team roles & SSO | Roles, organizations, SSO | Via Mockoon Cloud |
| AI agents (MCP) | Built-in MCP server | Not built in |
| Price | Free forever plan; paid from $4.99/mo | Free & open source; Cloud is paid |
Based on public documentation, reviewed October 2026. Mockoon is a trademark of its respective owner. Report an outdated row.
Choose Mockoon if…
- You want a free, open-source tool that runs entirely offline on your machine.
- Mocks only need to exist while you are developing locally.
- You want to version mock definitions as files in your repository and run them with a CLI.
Choose MockAPI if…
- Your mock must be reachable by teammates, mobile devices, CI and stakeholders without running anything.
- You mock GraphQL APIs as well as REST.
- You want built-in scenarios, rate limits, logs and team roles in one place.
- You want AI coding agents to manage mocks over MCP.
What is Mockoon?
Mockoon is an open-source desktop application (with a CLI and Docker image) for designing and running mock REST APIs on your machine. It supports response rules, templating with fake-data helpers, CRUD routes backed by data buckets, OpenAPI import and proxying. Mockoon Cloud is a paid add-on for team sync and hosted deployments.
Local-first vs. hosted-first
Local mocks are fast and private, but someone has to run them. When a designer opens a preview build, a QA engineer runs a test on a real phone or an AI agent works in the cloud, a localhost mock is out of reach.
MockAPI mocks live at a stable HTTPS URL secured with an API key and CORS enabled by default, so every environment can use the same mock without tunnels or shared machines.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move from Mockoon to MockAPI?
Yes. Export your API as OpenAPI from Mockoon and import it into MockAPI to create the endpoints, then attach data models for generated responses.
Does MockAPI work offline?
No. MockAPI is hosted. If you need fully offline mocks, a local tool like Mockoon is a better fit; many teams use both.
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