TL;DR - Insomnia
- Open-source API client by Kong supporting REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, SSE, SOAP, and Socket.io in one tool
- Free tier includes unlimited local projects, collection runners, and Inso CLI for CI/CD integration
- Pro plan at $12/user/month adds unlimited Git Sync users, RBAC, and 10K mock server requests
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
4.3/5 across review platforms
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Supports 7+ API protocols in a single tool — no need for separate clients
- Free tier includes unlimited local projects, collection runs, and environments
- Git Sync provides true version control without vendor lock-in
- Open-source core means transparency and community-driven development
- Inso CLI integrates API testing directly into CI/CD pipelines
- Clean, intuitive interface with a minimal learning curve for new users
Cons
- Git Sync limited to 3 users on the free plan
- Mock server requests capped at 1,000/month on the free tier
- Enterprise SSO (SAML/OIDC) only available on the $45/user/month plan
- Desktop-only application — no browser-based or mobile client available
- Some advanced features require a Kong account even for local-only usage
Ratings Across the Web
4.3(15 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Multi-protocol support: REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, SSE, Socket.io, SOAPGit Sync for version-controlled API collections and team collaborationAutomated collection runners for API test suites and CI/CD pipelinesAI-powered mock server generation and commit messagesEnvironment variable management with inheritance and secret maskingInso CLI for running API tests in continuous integration pipelinesNative vault integrations (AWS Secrets Manager, GCP, HashiCorp, Azure)End-to-end encryption for cloud-synced API collectionsPlugin system for custom authentication, themes, and request hooksOpenAPI spec import/export and design-first API development
Pricing Plans
Essentials
Free
- Unlimited local and cloud projects
- Git Sync for up to 3 users
- Unlimited collection runs and environments
- Inso CLI for CI/CD
- 1,000 mock server requests/month
- End-to-end encryption
- Unlimited plugins
Pro
$12
- Unlimited users with Git Sync
- Unlimited organizations
- Role-based access control (RBAC)
- 10,000 mock server requests/month
- +$10 per 25K additional mock requests
- 15% savings on annual billing
Enterprise
$45
- SSO with SAML/OIDC and SCIM provisioning
- Storage location mandate
- Domain capture/lock and invite control
- Native vault integrations (AWS, GCP, HashiCorp, Azure)
- Unlimited mock server requests
- SOC2 compliance documentation
- Enterprise support and professional services
About Insomnia
By Toolradar Team·
Insomnia is an open-source API development platform built by Kong for designing, testing, and debugging APIs. It supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, Socket.io, and SOAP protocols in a single desktop client. Insomnia offers Git-based project sync for team collaboration, automated collection runners for API test suites, environment variable management, and AI-powered features including auto-generated mock servers. The platform includes native vault integrations with AWS, GCP, HashiCorp, and Azure for secure credential management. Insomnia is used by teams at Netflix, PayPal, Tesla, Nasdaq, and Zillow for API workflow management.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to review Insomnia!
Best Insomnia Alternatives
Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.
ApidogFreemium
API design, testing, and documentation in one platform
Apollo StudioFreemium
GraphQL developer platform for building APIs
PostmanFreemium
API platform for building and using APIs
BrunoFreemium
Open-source API client alternative to Postman
RapidAPIFreemium
API marketplace and hub
HoppscotchFreemium
Open source API development
PawPaid
Advanced API client for Mac
Thunder ClientFreemium
REST API client for VS Code
Explore More
Insomnia FAQ
What is Insomnia and how does it compare to Postman?
Insomnia is an open-source API development platform by Kong that supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, SSE, SOAP, and Socket.io. Compared to Postman, Insomnia offers a cleaner interface, Git-based sync instead of proprietary cloud sync, and a fully usable free tier without account creation for local projects.
Is Insomnia free to use?
Yes. The Essentials plan is free and includes unlimited local projects, cloud projects, collection runners, environments, and the Inso CLI. Git Sync is available for up to 3 users. No credit card or account is required for local testing.
What API protocols does Insomnia support?
Insomnia supports REST/HTTP, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets (WSS), Server-Sent Events (SSE), Socket.io, and SOAP. All protocols are handled within a single unified interface.
Can I use Insomnia for automated API testing in CI/CD?
Yes. The Inso CLI lets you run API test collections and lint OpenAPI specs from the command line. It is included free on all plans and integrates with Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and other CI/CD systems.
How does Git Sync work in Insomnia?
Git Sync stores your API collections, environments, and design specs in a standard Git repository. Team members clone the repo, and changes are committed and pushed like source code. This avoids vendor-specific cloud sync and works with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or any Git provider.
What does the Enterprise plan add over Pro?
Enterprise ($45/user/month) adds SSO via SAML/OIDC with SCIM provisioning, storage location mandates, domain capture and invite controls, native vault integrations (AWS, GCP, HashiCorp, Azure), unlimited mock server requests, SOC2 documentation, and enterprise support.
Source: insomnia.rest