Katalon review

Katalon ranks eighth because it is a broad QA platform rather than a dedicated API client, and it is priced like one. The free Studio download covers web, API and mobile testing with basic record and playback, local execution and up to 40 static test suites. Professional costs $1,800 per seat per year, about $150 a month, and adds AI agents that write scripts from natural language and explain failures, desktop testing, data-driven testing with JDBC databases, Cucumber BDD feature files, unlimited dynamic suites, parallel execution, AI self-healing and integrations with Jira, Azure DevOps and test management tools. Running Studio tests headless in CI needs Katalon Runtime Engine add-ons, and cloud runs need TestCloud add-ons, so the real cost of automation is higher than the seat price. Enterprise adds SSO, SCIM, audit logs and private cloud or on-premises deployment. Katalon fits QA teams that test APIs as one part of end-to-end testing.

Who it is for

QA teams that test APIs alongside web, mobile and desktop apps and want low-code authoring with AI help.

Price

Free Studio download; Professional $1,800 per seat per year, about $150 per seat per month.

$1,800 / seat / year $2,199 Save 20% Billed annually ≈ $150 / seat / month
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 9, 2026.

Key features

• Web, API and mobile testing in the free Studio, with desktop testing on Professional
• AI agents that generate scripts from natural language and fix failures on Professional
• Data-driven testing with JDBC databases, and Cucumber feature files for BDD
• Parallel execution and AI self-healing locators on Professional
• Integrations with Jira, Azure DevOps, GitHub, GitLab and Slack

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: API tests sit in the same tool as web, mobile and desktop tests
• Strength: Free Studio includes web, API and mobile testing
• Strength: Professional includes unlimited AI sessions and an MCP server
• Weakness: Professional costs $1,800 per seat per year
• Weakness: Headless and CI execution need Runtime Engine add-ons
• Weakness: Free Studio lacks parallel execution and is capped at 40 static suites

Key facts

• Free plan: Free Studio download
• Plans: Free, Professional and Enterprise
• Free trial: 30 days of Professional
• Annual billing: $1,800 per seat, list $2,199

Where it ranks

Katalon is No. 8 in our Best API Testing Tools verdict and No. 8 in Best Test Automation Tools.