Question: I'm looking for a platform that simplifies API development and management, can you recommend one that offers a free plan?

Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative that lets developers build production apps with a Postgres database, user authentication and instant APIs. It supports many frameworks and has features like real-time data synchronization, large file storage and vector embeddings for machine learning model integration. Supabase has a free tier with unlimited API requests, 50,000 monthly active users and 500 MB database space, so it's a good option for developers.

Another option is BuildShip, a low-code visual backend builder that uses AI to rapidly build APIs, workflows and cloud functions. It comes with unlimited cloud storage, an integrated Firestore database or an option to use your own database, and supports many services. BuildShip has a free tier with no credit card required, so it's a good option for developers, teams and businesses that want to build a scalable backend without much coding.

If you're more focused on API design and management, Conektto is an API design platform that automates API integrations with generative design and AI. It's got tools like API Design Studio and API Test Harness, and it offers a free Community Edition with unlimited free format API design per month, 4 aggregate APIs and 6 months of data retention.

Last, ApyHub is an all-in-one API platform that gives you access to more than 100 utility APIs for things like file uploads, email sending and payment processing. It makes API management easier with features like API playgrounds, centralized monitoring and enterprise-grade security. ApyHub's tiered pricing starts with a free forever core feature option, so it's a good option for teams that want to get their API management in order and boost productivity.