Hardhat vs Insomnia: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Hardhat and Insomnia comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Hardhat
Rust-powered Ethereum development environment for robust smart contract creation and deployment.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need debugging features specifically
- • Rust-powered Ethereum development environment for Solidity.
- • Comprehensive tools for testing, deployment, and debugging smart contracts.
Insomnia
API client for REST and GraphQL
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.4/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • You need api tools features specifically
- • Clean API client focused on simplicity and design
- • Excellent GraphQL support with schema integration
| At a Glance |  Hardhat |  Insomnia |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | Debugging | API Tools |
Rating | —/100 | 84/100 |
| Feature | Hardhat | Insomnia |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | — | 84 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | DebuggingTesting & QA | API ToolsDebugging |
How Hardhat and Insomnia Compare
Hardhat
Rust-powered Ethereum development environment for robust smart contract creation and deployment.
Free
Insomnia
API client for REST and GraphQL
Free tier available · 84/100 score
Hardhat is a debugging tool. Insomnia is in api tools.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Hardhat is free. Insomnia is freemium.
Go with: Hardhat
Want the highest-rated option?
Insomnia scores 84/100. Hardhat is unrated.
Go with: Insomnia
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Insomnia
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Hardhat is free. Insomnia is freemium. Go with Hardhat if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Hardhat is a debugging tool. Insomnia is in api tools. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Insomnia
- Higher score: 84/100 vs unrated
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Hardhat
- Completely free
- Better fit for debugging
The Bottom Line
Insomnia (84/100) is our pick. That said, Hardhat is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hardhat or Insomnia better?
Insomnia scores 84/100 in our evaluation. Hardhat is free and Insomnia is freemium.
What are Hardhat and Insomnia used for?
Hardhat: Rust-powered Ethereum development environment for robust smart contract creation and deployment.. Insomnia: API client for REST and GraphQL.
What does Hardhat cost vs Insomnia?
Hardhat is completely free. Insomnia is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.