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Native graphical HTTP client for testing APIs freely
A lightweight, privacy-respecting graphical HTTP client for testing REST, SOAP, and XML-RPC APIs. Saves requests to Git-friendly TOML files you control.

Cartero is a graphical HTTP client built for developers who need to test web APIs without sacrificing privacy or control. Compatible with REST, SOAP, and XML-RPC services, it supports multiple request methods and body payloads while remaining fully native and lightweight.
Unlike cloud-dependent tools that force account creation, Cartero saves all requests to plain TOML files—Git-friendly and version-controllable. Variable binding lets you manage API keys and secrets securely. Customize headers and payloads with full transparency over where your data lives.
Created in response to the scarcity of truly free graphical HTTP clients, Cartero runs natively on GNU/Linux, Windows, and macOS using GNOME technologies (GTK 4, libadwaita). Available via Flathub, Snap Store, Homebrew, Scoop, and NixOS, it's distributed under GPL-3.0 and explicitly prohibits generative AI contributions to maintain code integrity. Whether you're debugging endpoints or building integration tests, Cartero delivers a fast, account-free experience.
When teams consider Cartero, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.
Version-Controlled API Development
Store request collections in Git alongside code, enabling team collaboration and historical tracking of API endpoint changes without external services.
Secure Credential Management
Use variable binding to separate API keys from request definitions, preventing accidental credential commits while maintaining reproducible test scenarios.
Privacy-Focused API Testing
Test internal or sensitive APIs without sending request data to third-party cloud services, keeping all information on local infrastructure.
Cross-Platform Native Development
Deploy a consistent HTTP testing tool across Linux, Windows, and macOS development environments using native performance and system integration.
No. Cartero is fully offline and account-free. All data is stored locally in TOML files you control, with no telemetry or mandatory cloud services.
Cartero saves requests as plain TOML files, which are human-readable, Git-friendly, and easy to version control alongside your codebase.
Yes. Cartero supports REST, SOAP, and XML-RPC APIs with customizable headers and body payloads. GraphQL requests work as standard POST requests with JSON bodies.
Use Cartero's variable binding feature to define secrets separately from request files, preventing accidental exposure in version control systems.
Yes. Cartero runs natively on GNU/Linux, Windows (via Scoop or direct download), and macOS (via Homebrew or direct download). Packages are also available through Flathub and Snap Store.
Project at a glance
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