Best Free Online Developer Tools to Use in 2026
A practical, opinionated list of the best free online developer tools worth using in 2026, organized by category so you can find what you need fast.
Aug 08, 2026
Create a complete mock REST API — define endpoints, methods, and response fields, then export as json-server, Express, or Postman
{
"users": [
{ "id": 1, "name": "..." }
]
}
Endpoints
0
Format
db.json
Resources
0
Size
0 B
A fake REST API is a mock server that simulates real API endpoints during development. Instead of waiting for a backend to be built, front-end developers can use fake APIs to build and test UI components, handle data fetching, and validate application logic.
This generator creates a complete mock API setup in three formats: json-server (zero-config REST API), Express.js server (customizable Node.js server), or Postman collection (import into Postman for testing).
npx json-server db.json or node server.js to start your fake API.json-server (db.json)
A single JSON file compatible with json-server. Run with npx json-server db.json to get a full REST API with zero configuration. Supports GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, filtering, sorting, and pagination.
Express Server (server.js)
A complete Node.js Express server with all routes defined. Run with node server.js after installing express and cors (npm install express cors). Includes CORS support, delay simulation, and request logging.
Postman Collection
A Postman collection v2.1 JSON file. Import into Postman to get all endpoints organized in a collection with methods, URLs, and example responses ready to test.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. All processing is performed locally in your browser. Your data never leaves your device.
What is json-server?
json-server is a popular npm package that creates a full REST API from a JSON file in seconds. It supports all CRUD operations, filtering, sorting, and pagination out of the box.
Can I customize the generated Express server?
Yes. The generated Express server is a complete, readable JavaScript file that you can edit to add custom logic, authentication, validation, or any other middleware.
Is this tool free to use?
Yes. This tool is completely free with no usage limits or registration required.
Related Tools
Blog
A practical, opinionated list of the best free online developer tools worth using in 2026, organized by category so you can find what you need fast.
Aug 08, 2026
A practical decision guide to choosing the right hash algorithm: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3, bcrypt, argon2, PBKDF2, and SRI, with comparisons and clear recommendations.
Aug 08, 2026
A thorough, practical comparison of hand-written CSS and Tailwind CSS: learning curve, maintainability, performance, team workflows, and when each approach wins.
Aug 08, 2026
Learn practical, step-by-step techniques to improve LCP, INP, and CLS on your website. A developer-focused guide with real measurements and fixes.
Aug 08, 2026
Learn practical, production-ready ways to use Base64 encoding: data URLs for images, JWT payloads, API tokens, and email attachments, with real code examples.
Aug 08, 2026
Learn how AES encryption works, the differences between AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256, and how to encrypt and decrypt data online.
Jun 23, 2026