PolyApiIDE and Apidog

Apidog designs APIs and publishes documentation; PolyApiIDE debugs the API that already exists.

Apidog is a broad platform built around the specification: API design, mock servers, documentation and tests in one service, with sign-in through GitHub, Google or email. If you start every API from a contract and publish it to consumers, that approach pays off.

PolyApiIDE is the opposite shape: a debug-first client in the browser. It does not design APIs and does not publish documentation, but it starts without an account, keeps data in the browser and can be bought once as a Lifetime license.

Side by side

Topic	PolyApiIDE	Apidog
Primary use case	Debugging and running requests against an API that exists	Design-first: modelling, documentation, mocks, tests
Where it runs	Browser extension for Chrome / Edge / Chromium and Firefox	Web and desktop application
Account	Not required for the free tier or for sending requests	Registration through GitHub, Google or email
Mock servers	None	Yes, one of the core features
Published documentation	None	Generates and publishes API documentation
Specifications	Imports OpenAPI, WSDL, GraphQL SDL and introspection, .proto, AsyncAPI, plus Postman, curl, Insomnia, Hoppscotch and Thunder Client	The specification sits at the centre of the workflow
Protocols	REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, SOAP, SSE, gRPC via JSON transcoding	The platform protocol set around API design
Where data lives	Locally in the browser; the cloud only on your command	In service projects tied to your account
Checks and runs	QA checks on requests, scenarios, Functional runner, load profiles, PDF reports	Tests as part of the platform
Team work	Export, collection and folder patches, snapshots — manual; no realtime workspace	Shared team projects in the service
Interface language	English and Russian	No Russian version: apidog.com/ru redirects to the root
Licensing model	Free, monthly, yearly and a one-time Lifetime license	Service subscription plans

Apidog details verified on 2026-10-20.

Choose PolyApiIDE when

The job is debugging an existing API, not designing a new one: the contract is already there, or somebody else writes it.
Signing up to an external service is not acceptable — you need to open a client and send a request without an account.
Requests and tokens should stay in the browser instead of a cloud project.
You need SOAP with WSDL import and load profiles with PDF reports in the same tool.
You want to pay once for a Lifetime license instead of maintaining a platform subscription.

Choose Apidog when

You design APIs from scratch and want the specification to be the single source of truth for the team.
You need mock servers so the frontend can work before the backend is ready. We have none.
You need publishable API documentation for external consumers.
You want one service where design, docs, mocks and tests are wired together.
The team works in shared cloud projects, and manual patch exchange would not be enough.

Moving your work out of Apidog

1. Export the specification

Export the API description as OpenAPI, JSON or YAML. For a design-first project that file carries the most complete picture of every request.

2. Import the specification into PolyApiIDE

OpenAPI import is part of the free tier. The collection is built from the description: paths, methods, parameters and request bodies. Sample files are on the examples page.

3. Describe your stages as environments

Lift baseUrl and tokens to the environment level and keep local values in the collection. Empty values are not applied, so placeholders in a collection cannot overwrite a working stage.

4. Decide what to do about mocks

We have no mock servers. If your frontend depends on stubs, keep that part in Apidog or a dedicated mock service and move only debugging and runs to PolyApiIDE.

Frequently asked

Does PolyApiIDE do mock servers or hosted documentation?

No. It is a client for debugging and running requests. If you need mocks and public docs, Apidog is objectively stronger there.

Can I work without registering?

Yes. The free tier and request sending need no site account. Server features use a technical client_id rather than a personal dashboard.

What happens to a large OpenAPI specification?

It imports into a collection as a whole; from there requests can be renamed, grouped into folders and extended with checks. The original file is no longer needed.

Is there team collaboration?

Manual exchange only: export, collection and folder patches, snapshots. There is no realtime workspace and no team billing, which matters for larger teams.

Can I keep both tools?

Yes. A common split is Apidog for design, docs and mocks, PolyApiIDE for day-to-day debugging, QA checks and load runs.

Chrome Web Store Firefox Add-ons

Quick start Video overview Pricing