Insomnia vs Bruno: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Insomnia and Bruno 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:
Insomnia
API client for REST and GraphQL
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.4/10 vs 8.2/10)
- • You need api tools features specifically
- • Clean API client focused on simplicity and design
- • Excellent GraphQL support with schema integration
Bruno
Open-source API client alternative to Postman
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need version control features specifically
- • Bruno is an open-source IDE for exploring and testing APIs, alternative to Postman
- • It stores collections in your filesystem with Git-friendly plain text files
| At a Glance |  Insomnia |  Bruno |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free |
Best For | API Tools | Version Control |
Rating | 84/100 | 82/100 |
| Feature | Insomnia | Bruno |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Editorial Score | 84 | 82 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | API ToolsDebugging | Version ControlAPI Tools |
How Insomnia and Bruno Compare
Insomnia
API client for REST and GraphQL
Free tier available · 84/100 score
Bruno
Open-source API client alternative to Postman
Free · 82/100 score
Insomnia is a api tools tool. Bruno is in version control.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Bruno is free. Insomnia is freemium.
Go with: Bruno
Want the highest-rated option?
Insomnia: 84/100. Bruno: 82/100.
Go with: Insomnia
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Insomnia
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Insomnia is freemium. Bruno is free. Go with Bruno if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Insomnia is a api tools tool. Bruno is in version control. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Insomnia scores higher: 84/100 vs 82/100.
Key Takeaways
Insomnia
- Higher score: 84/100 vs 82
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Bruno
- Completely free
- Better fit for version control
The Bottom Line
Insomnia (84/100) is our pick. That said, Bruno is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Insomnia or Bruno better?
Insomnia scores 84/100 in our evaluation. Insomnia is freemium and Bruno is free.
What are Insomnia and Bruno used for?
Insomnia: API client for REST and GraphQL. Bruno: Open-source API client alternative to Postman.
What does Insomnia cost vs Bruno?
Insomnia is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Bruno is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.