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Prism

Turn an OpenAPI document into a mock server that validates as well as responds.

Test Data & MocksOpen sourceSelf-hostable
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What it is

Prism, from Stoplight, reads an OpenAPI description and serves a mock API from it, generating responses that conform to the schema and validating incoming requests against it. Because the spec is the only input, the mock cannot drift from the contract.

Best for

Design-first API teams who want mocks that are provably in sync with the contract.

Where it is strong

  • The mock is generated from the spec, so it cannot silently diverge from the contract.
  • Validation proxy mode checks that a real implementation matches its own spec.
  • Zero configuration beyond having an OpenAPI file.

Where it falls short

  • Useless without an accurate OpenAPI document.
  • Limited stateful behaviour — it is spec-driven, not scenario-driven.
  • Generated example data is uninteresting unless examples are in the spec.

Pricing

Free and open source

Open source

Free tier: Everything, self-hosted

What drives the bill: Free and open source. You pay in engineering time and CI minutes.

Check current pricing on Stoplight (SmartBear)’s site

Figures are indicative and were last reviewed August 2026. Vendors change pricing often; confirm before you commit.

Works with

OpenAPIDockerGitHub ActionsStoplight

What people who use Prism say

No reviews of Prism yet. If you have used it in anger, yours would be the first.

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