Stop alt-tabbing into the terminal
When an API call fails, the next move is usually SSH into the box, tail the log, query the database. ShellYard puts those in the same window — the request, the tunnel, the database, and the shell.
Comparison · Postman
Postman is a web platform.
ShellYard runs next to your terminal.
Full HTTP / GraphQL / realtime client, Postman v2.1 import, plus the SSH session, the database connection, and the network tools — same desktop window.
Feature-by-feature
Postman is excellent for designing and publishing APIs. ShellYard is built for the moment a request fails and the next step is a tunneled SQL query.
ShellYard advantage Postman advantage Parity
| Feature | Postman | ShellYard |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP collections | ||
| Environments + variables | ||
| Collection runner | ||
| Pre-request + test scripts | ||
| Postman v2.1 collection import | ✓ (native format) | |
| OpenAPI / cURL / HAR import | ||
| GraphQL client | ||
| WebSocket / SSE / MQTT | ||
| Cloud sync of collections | ✓ (Pro) | |
| Public document share links | ✓ (Pro) | |
| SSH-tunnel routing for HTTP requests | ||
| SSH, RDP, serial, AWS SSM in same window | ||
| Multi-engine database inspector | ✓ Postgres, MySQL, Redis, Mongo, SQLite | |
| Network toolkit (MTR, packet capture, TLS, SNMP, DNS) | ||
| Cross-Space HTTP collection sharing | ✓ (workspaces) | ✓ (Team Spaces) |
| Per-Space audit log + CSV export | workspace activity log | ✓ per actor / action / target |
| Per-Space customer-managed KMS | ✓ (Enterprise) | |
| AI assistant (BYO key) | Postbot (Postman-hosted) | ✓ Magellan — Anthropic, OpenAI, Ollama, OpenAI-compatible |
| Local-first credential vault | ||
| Web app / browser access | — desktop only | |
| API design + OpenAPI authoring | — consume only | |
| Mock servers | ||
| Hosted monitoring / scheduled runs |
Reflects publicly documented Postman capability at time of comparison.
Why teams switch
SSH-tunneled requests, no extra config
Run an HTTP call against a service that only listens on a private subnet by routing through a saved SSH host. Same for database connections.
Bring your existing collections
Import Postman v2.1 collections, OpenAPI specs, cURL snippets, and HAR files. Environments come along with them.
When Postman is the right call
If you need API design, OpenAPI authoring, mock servers, or hosted monitoring with scheduled runs, Postman is the better fit. ShellYard is a consumer of APIs, not a publisher.
Tunnel the next request through SSH.
Without staging a port forward.
Import your Postman v2.1 collections — they keep working. Then point a request at a saved SSH host and the call routes through that session. No extra tab, no manual port-forward. Free is free; Pro at $24/mo annual unlocks unlimited collections (14-day trial, card required).