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SOAP UI vs PostMan: Which Tool is Best?

Feb 24, 2025
3 min read
author denis sautin preview

Denis Sautin

When it comes to API testing, Postman and SoapUI are two of the most widely used tools, each designed with a different focus. Postman is streamlined, intuitive, and ideal for REST API development, automation, and team collaboration. SoapUI, on the other hand, offers comprehensive functional and security testing, making it the go-to choice for SOAP-based services and enterprise-level validation. Postman vs SoapUI — which is better? The answer depends on your testing requirements. Here’s how they compare.

What Is The Difference Between Soapui And Postman?

FeatureSoapUIPostman
Interface & UsabilityComplex, requires technical knowledgeUser-friendly, intuitive
Supported APIsPrimarily SOAP, also supports RESTPrimarily REST, supports GraphQL & SOAP
Functional TestingAdvanced testing features, scripting requiredEasy automated tests, minimal scripting
AutomationStrong, but requires Groovy scriptingIntegrated CI/CD automation
IntegrationJenkins, JIRA, TestRailGitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps

What is SoapUI?

SoapUI is an open-source API testing tool designed primarily for SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) web services, but it also supports RESTful APIs. It is widely used for functional, security, and load testing, making it a popular choice for testers who require a comprehensive tool with advanced capabilities.

Unlike lightweight API testing solutions like Postman, SoapUI is built for in-depth testing, offering robust features for automation, validation, and performance assessment. However, due to its complex interface and reliance on scripting, it has a steeper learning curve compared to more user-friendly tools.

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Main Features of SoapUI

  1. 1.
    Comprehensive SOAP API Support – Unlike Postman, which is primarily focused on REST, SoapUI is built with SOAP in mind. It allows for deep validation of WSDLs (Web Service Description Language), ensuring APIs function correctly.
  2. 2.
    Advanced Functional Testing – Users can create automated test cases with assertions to verify API responses, ensuring services work as expected.
  3. 3.
    Security Testing – SoapUI can detect vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XML bombs, and boundary violations, making it useful for enterprises handling sensitive data.
  4. 4.
    Load Testing – The tool enables developers to simulate high traffic loads, identifying how an API performs under stress.
  5. 5.
    Data-Driven Testing – With SoapUI, users can run tests with varied inputs, simulating real-world usage scenarios.
  6. 6.
    Scripting and Automation – The tool supports Groovy scripting, allowing for advanced test customization and automation.
  7. 7.
    Integration Capabilities – SoapUI integrates with Jenkins, JIRA, TestRail, and other CI/CD tools to streamline API testing in agile workflows.

Advantages of SoapUI

  • Designed for SOAP APIs – Ideal for enterprises that rely on legacy SOAP services.
  • Comprehensive testing – Supports functional, security, and load testing in one platform.
  • Data-driven testing – Enhances real-world test accuracy by using external data sources.
  • Extensible with scripting – Allows for advanced automation and customized test cases via Groovy.
  • CI/CD integration – Compatible with Jenkins, JIRA, and TestRail, making it useful in DevOps environments.

Disadvantages of SoapUI

  • Steep learning curve – Requires technical knowledge, particularly Groovy scripting.
  • UI is outdated and complex – Compared to Postman’s modern interface, SoapUI can feel clunky and difficult to navigate.
  • Limited REST API features – While SoapUI supports REST, it lacks the efficiency and flexibility of REST-focused tools like Postman.
  • Pro version is expensive – While there is a free version, the ReadyAPI Pro suite starts at $659 per year, making it costly for small teams.
  • Not the best fit for load testing – While it has a load testing feature, it lacks efficiency for large-scale performance testing compared to specialized tools.

What is Postman?

Postman is a user-friendly API testing and development tool that has become a standard in modern software development. Originally a simple Chrome extension, it has evolved into a comprehensive API development platform that supports REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs. Postman is known for its intuitive interface, automation capabilities, and built-in collaboration features, making it a preferred choice for developers and testers working in agile and DevOps environments. You can also find our insights into performance testing with Postman.

Unlike SoapUI, which is optimized for complex functional and security testing, Postman prioritizes ease of use and automation. It allows users to create, send, and test API requests without needing extensive scripting knowledge.

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Main Features of Postman

  1. 1.
    Intuitive User Interface – Postman provides a graphical interface that simplifies API requests, making it easy to send requests, inspect responses, and debug errors.
  2. 2.
    Automated Testing – Users can create test scripts using JavaScript to automate API validation, ensuring seamless integration into development workflows.
  3. 3.
    Collection Runner & Workspaces – Postman allows developers to organize API tests into collections and collaborate in shared workspaces, making it easier for teams to manage API development.
  4. 4.
    Mock Servers – Users can create mock APIs to simulate real-world interactions, enabling efficient API testing before deployment.
  5. 5.
    Built-in CI/CD Integration – Postman supports GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Jenkins, allowing teams to integrate API testing into their continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
  6. 6.
    API Documentation & Monitoring – Postman automatically generates API documentation and allows users to set up API monitors to track performance and availability over time.
  7. 7.
    GraphQL Support – Unlike SoapUI, which primarily focuses on SOAP, Postman has built-in support for GraphQL APIs, making it a versatile choice for modern applications.

Advantages of Postman

  • Beginner-friendly and easy to use – Unlike SoapUI, Postman’s modern interface allows even non-technical users to test APIs with minimal learning.
  • Supports REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs – A more versatile solution for modern API testing.
  • Built-in automation and collaboration tools – Teams can work together using shared collections and cloud syncing.
  • Mock server functionality – Allows developers to test APIs without backend dependencies.
  • Robust CI/CD integration – Works seamlessly with GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab, and Jenkins.
  • Free tier is feature-rich – Unlike SoapUI’s costly Pro version, Postman offers strong free-tier functionality.

Disadvantages of Postman

  • Limited SOAP API capabilities – While it supports SOAP, SoapUI remains the superior choice for in-depth SOAP testing.
  • Basic performance testing – Unlike dedicated load testing tools, Postman’s performance testing features are limited.
  • Collaboration features require paid plans – Team workspaces and advanced integrations are locked behind Postman’s paid plans.
  • No native scripting language support – Unlike SoapUI, which allows Groovy scripting, Postman only supports JavaScript-based test automation.
  • Not optimized for load testing – Like SoapUI, Postman is not designed for large-scale API load testing, making it unsuitable for stress-testing production systems.

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Top 5 Differences Between SoapUI and Postman 

When comparing Postman vs SoapUI, several factors come into play. While both tools serve the purpose of API testing, their target audiences and best use cases vary. Below, we break down the difference between SoapUI and Postman tool, so you can determine the best fit for your workflow.

Execution Model and Scripting Capabilities

  • SoapUI: Uses an event-driven execution model where test cases are structured as test suites with step-by-step execution. It supports Groovy scripting, allowing users to create dynamic test cases, manipulate request payloads, extract values, and implement advanced assertions.
  • Postman: Uses a request-based execution model, where API requests are grouped into collections that can be executed in sequence. It supports JavaScript-based scripting via the Postman Sandbox, but lacks the deep integration with API workflows that SoapUI provides.

Protocol and Transport Layer Support

  • SoapUI: Primarily designed for SOAP web services, it offers full support for WSDL-based APIs, XML request validation, and SOAP over HTTP/HTTPS. It can also handle REST APIs, but with less flexibility.
  • Postman: Built for RESTful APIs, it natively supports JSON, GraphQL, and modern API specifications. While it can send SOAP requests, it lacks WSDL parsing and deep XML validation.

Test Execution Speed and Performance

  • SoapUI: Uses a Java-based architecture that can handle large test cases but often requires higher memory consumption and longer execution times due to its detailed validation processes.
  • Postman: Built as a lightweight application, it executes API requests faster and is optimized for quick debugging and iterative development.

Data-Driven Testing and Parameterization

  • SoapUI: Fully supports data-driven testing by allowing API requests to be parameterized using external data sources (Excel, CSV, databases). This enables running batch test scenarios across multiple data variations.
  • Postman: Supports basic variable substitution but lacks direct database integration. Users can pull data from JSON or CSV files, but executing large-scale data-driven test cases requires custom scripting.

Integration with CI/CD and Automation Pipelines

  • SoapUI: Supports integration with Jenkins, Bamboo, and Azure DevOps but requires additional configuration to automate tests via command-line execution. The Pro version (ReadyAPI) offers built-in CI/CD compatibility.
  • Postman: Provides native CI/CD integration with tools like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and Bitbucket Pipelines, enabling fully automated API testing as part of a DevOps workflow. It also offers cloud-based monitoring for scheduled test execution.

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Why Use SoapUI or Postman?

Both Postman vs SoapUI are widely used for API testing, but their ideal use cases differ. Below are scenarios where each tool is the preferred choice. 

Postman Typical Use Cases

Postman is widely used across various industries, particularly in agile software development and cloud-based applications. Common scenarios where Postman excels include:

  • Rapid API prototyping – Developers can quickly design, test, and iterate API endpoints during early development stages.
  • Automated regression testing – API tests can be automated to ensure stability after code changes.
  • Team collaboration – Teams working remotely can share collections, workspaces, and real-time updates on API testing progress.
  • CI/CD pipeline integration – API tests can be executed as part of automated deployment processes, reducing manual testing overhead.
  • API performance monitoring – Postman’s monitoring tools allow developers to track response times, uptime, and API failures.

SoapUI Typical Use Cases

SoapUI is most commonly used in enterprise environments where SOAP APIs are prevalent. Typical scenarios include:

  • Testing legacy SOAP-based services that require WSDL validation.
  • Validating API security for banking, healthcare, and other sensitive applications.
  • Automating regression tests for complex API workflows.
  • Simulating high traffic loads to evaluate an API’s performance and scalability.
  • Verifying contract-based services to ensure compatibility between API consumers and providers.

SoapUI vs Postman — When Neither Is Enough?

While SoapUI offers basic performance testing and Postman provides API monitoring capabilities, neither tool is designed to handle large-scale load testing effectively. For comprehensive performance evaluation, it’s essential to simulate high traffic volumes and analyze system behavior under stress.

PFLB’s API Load Testing Tool is specifically engineered for this purpose, enabling you to:

  1. 1.
    Simulate High Traffic Loads: Generate thousands of requests per second to mimic real-world usage scenarios.
  2. 2.
    Utilize a No-Code Script Builder: Easily create and configure load testing scenarios without extensive coding knowledge.
  3. 3.
    Import Existing Collections: Seamlessly import Postman or Insomnia request collections to streamline your testing process.
  4. 4.
    Leverage Scalable Cloud Infrastructure: Conduct tests from 18 global locations, ensuring your API can handle traffic from diverse regions.
  5. 5.
    Analyze Results with Grafana Dashboards: Access detailed performance metrics through integrated Grafana dashboards to identify and address bottlenecks.

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