Hooklistener vs Beeceptor
Hooklistener vs Beeceptor: webhook debugging or API mocking
Beeceptor is built around mocking: you create an endpoint and add rules that return canned responses, so a frontend or test suite has an API to call. Hooklistener is built around receiving webhooks: it stores each request, forwards it to localhost and lets you replay it. Use Beeceptor to mock an API your code calls; use Hooklistener to debug the webhooks that call you.
We make Hooklistener, so read this with that in mind. The two overlap (both give you a public URL and show what hit it) but they're aimed at different jobs. Beeceptor cells come from Beeceptor's MCP docs and pricing page; where those don't cover something, the cell says so.
Hooklistener vs Beeceptor: feature comparison
Competitor cells checked against Beeceptor's own pages in September 2026; sources below.
| Capability | Hooklistener | Beeceptor |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Receiving webhooks: capture each request, forward it to localhost, inspect it and replay it. | Mock servers: endpoints with rules that return the responses you define, so code that calls an API has something to call. |
| Free tier | 1 hosted endpoint, 50 stored requests, 1-day history, 1 CLI tunnel at a time, MCP server. | 50 requests/day per endpoint, 3 mock rules. |
| Custom responses | Set the status, headers, body and latency an endpoint replies with, to test a sender's retries and backoff. | Mock rules are the core product; 3 rules on Free. |
| Request history | Stored in the cloud and searchable: 1 day on Free, 14 on Pro, 30 on Production, 90 on Scale. | Request history, searchable through its MCP tools. |
| Forward to localhost | hooklistener tunnel --port 3000, or hooklistener listen to forward a hosted endpoint to a local port. | Local tunnel on the platform; ephemeral on Free. |
| Replay | To localhost or any URL, with an edited body; saved replay suites. Replay starts on Pro. | Not documented in the pages we checked |
| Webhook signatures | Verify Stripe, GitHub and Slack signatures; re-sign on replay (secrets on paid plans). | Not documented in the pages we checked |
| AI agents / MCP | Hosted MCP server with OAuth and 67 tools, including wait_for_request to block until a webhook lands. On every plan. | Hosted MCP server at mcp.beeceptor.com/mcp with OAuth; tools centre on mock rules and request history. A wait tool isn't documented. |
| Email and real-time testing | Email inboxes, plus hosted WebSocket, Socket.IO, MQTT-over-WebSocket and SSE endpoints. | Not documented in the pages we checked |
When to choose each
Choose Beeceptor when
- You need a mock API for a frontend, mobile app or test suite before the real backend exists.
- Your endpoint has to answer many different requests with different canned responses. Rule-based mocking is Beeceptor's core product; in Hooklistener, custom responses exist to test how a webhook sender reacts.
- You want an AI agent to create and edit mock rules for you over MCP.
Choose Hooklistener when
- A provider like Stripe or GitHub is sending you webhooks and you want them on localhost while you write the handler.
- You need to reproduce a failure: replay the exact request, change the body, and re-sign it for Stripe, GitHub or Slack.
- You need history after the fact: up to 90 days on Scale, searchable, shared with a team on Production and up.
- Claude Code, Codex or Cursor has to wait for a real webhook to arrive and then replay it to your code.
- You also test signup emails or WebSocket, Socket.IO, MQTT and SSE clients and want one tool for it.
FAQ
Is Hooklistener a Beeceptor alternative?
For receiving and debugging webhooks, yes: it stores each request, forwards it to localhost with the CLI, replays it with edits and verifies Stripe, GitHub and Slack signatures. For mocking an API that your own code calls, Beeceptor is the more focused tool.
Can Hooklistener mock API responses like Beeceptor?
Partly. Each Hooklistener endpoint can reply with the status, headers, body and latency you set, which is how you test a webhook sender's retry and backoff logic. It isn't built as a general mock server with many rules per API, which is what Beeceptor focuses on.
What is Beeceptor's free tier?
As of September 2026, Beeceptor's pricing page lists 50 requests per day per endpoint and 3 mock rules on the free plan, and its local tunnel is ephemeral on Free. Hooklistener Free includes one hosted endpoint with 50 stored requests, a day of history, one CLI tunnel at a time and the MCP server.
Can I forward webhooks to localhost with Beeceptor?
Beeceptor offers a local tunnel on its platform, ephemeral on the free plan. Hooklistener has two CLI modes: hooklistener tunnel --port 3000 exposes your local server, and hooklistener listen forwards a hosted endpoint whose URL never changes, so webhooks that arrive while you're offline are still captured.
Which one works with Claude Code, Codex or Cursor?
Both run hosted MCP servers with OAuth. Beeceptor's tools centre on mock rules and request history. Hooklistener's 67 tools let an agent create an endpoint, wait for the next webhook with wait_for_request, verify its signature and replay it to your local listener.
Last updated
Sources, checked September 2026
Related comparisons
Route one real webhook through Hooklistener
The Free plan gives you a hosted endpoint, a day of history, one CLI tunnel and the MCP server. Point a provider at it and see whether it fits.