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Requestly allows you to easily send API requests, without the need for writing code or using a terminal. It lets you test APIs, retrieve data, and explore how they work by simply creating a request, clicking Send, and viewing the response. This is useful for developers testing API endpoints during development, QA engineers validating API responses for edge cases, and support engineers debugging API issues in real-time.

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Quick Start

Follow these steps to send your first API request:
1

Open API Client and Create a New Request

Open Requestly Desktop App, then click the + New button to create a new request and select Request from the menu.The image shows the Requestly interface with the "New" button highlighted, displaying options: "Request," "Collection," and "Environment" in a dropdown menu.
2

Name Your API Request

Choose a descriptive title for your request to make it easy to identify later.The image shows the Requestly interface's new request creation flow, with an input field for entering the request name, labeled 'Send API Request'
3

Enter the API URL and HTTP Method

Pick the HTTP method (e.g., GET, POST) and type the URL of the API you want to test.
4

Save & Send the Request

Click the Save & Send button to execute your request.The image shows the Requestly interface with a POST request to https://app.requestly.io/echo and the "Send" button towards the top right corner highlighted for executing the request.

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Understanding the Response

Once you send a request, you’ll see the response displayed in the bottom panel with the following information:

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View the Response Body

Check the response body in the Response Body section. You can switch between formatted (pretty) and raw views. Response Body - Send API Request Requestly renders the response based on its content type:
  • Text and structured data (JSON, XML, HTML, plain text) shows in the editor. JSON and XML are pretty-printed in Preview, and the Raw toggle shows the response exactly as it came off the wire.
  • Images (PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, SVG) render as the actual picture in Preview. Switch to Raw to see the underlying transported text.
  • Other binary content (PDF, ZIP, audio, video, fonts, and similar) shows a Binary response placeholder with the response size, rather than unreadable characters. Switch to Raw to view the Base64-encoded body.
The Size shown for the response reflects the true byte count of the body, so it stays accurate for images and other binary responses.
An image response rendered as a picture in the response body Preview

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Download the Response Body

To save a response to a file, click the Download button in the response pane header, next to Save as example.
The Download button in the HTTP response pane header, next to Save as example
Download works for both text and binary responses. Binary content (images, PDFs, fonts, and similar) is saved byte-for-byte, so the file you get is identical to what the server sent - the same response shown in the preview above.

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Check the Response Headers

Review the headers sent back by the server in the Headers tab. Response Headers - Send API Request

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Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics, explore these guides to master API request creation:

Configure Request

Set up HTTP methods, URLs, and send your first request

Parameters and Body

Add query parameters, path variables, and request body data

Request Headers

Configure headers for authentication and content types