Essentials
$0
month
Free plan with local and cloud projects, Git Sync for up to three users, unlimited collection runs and environments, Inso CLI access, plugins, end-to-end encryption, and 1,000 monthly mock-server requests.
Check current pricing →
Insomnia
Insomnia is an open-source desktop application for designing, debugging, testing, mocking, and documenting APIs across REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, and related protocols.
Editorial overview
Aggregated Overview
Insomnia provides broad protocol support, API design, testing, mocking, environments, scripting, plugins, local and Git storage, cloud collaboration, and CLI automation. The free Essentials plan covers substantial individual and small-team workflows, while enterprise controls and support require hig
This profile combines documented product information and independent evidence where available. It is not a hands-on test unless TechZella explicitly identifies one.
Insomnia Decision Snapshot
A quick way to understand who this product may suit, where its limits matter, and which facts are most relevant before you compare alternatives.
Platforms
API, CLI, Linux, macOS, Ubuntu, Windows
TechZella assessment
8.5/10
Overview
Insomnia is an open-source desktop API client maintained by Kong Inc. It supports API design, debugging, testing, mocking, and collaboration from a single application.
The product works with REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, and other HTTP-compatible workflows. Users can store projects locally, in Git repositories, or through Insomnia Cloud Sync.
Insomnia was acquired by Kong in October 2019. The software remains available under the Apache-2.0 license, with paid plans adding collaboration, governance, identity, and enterprise capabilities.
Insomnia Features
API Development
- OpenAPI design and live preview
- REST request development
- GraphQL support
- gRPC support
- WebSocket support
- Server-Sent Events support
- Environment variables
- Authentication helpers
- Client certificates
- Code generation
API Testing
- Collection runner
- Pre-request scripts
- After-response scripts
- Assertions and test suites
- Automated test execution
- OpenAPI linting
- Inso CLI for CI/CD
- Request chaining
API Mocking
- Cloud-hosted mock servers
- Self-hosted mock servers
- Dynamic responses
- Mock generation from OpenAPI specifications
- Mock generation from collections and responses
- Prompt-based mock generation
Collaboration and Storage
- Local vault storage
- Git Sync
- Cloud Sync
- End-to-end encryption
- Projects and collections
- Role-based access control
- Three-way merge support
- Organization management
Integrations
- Git repositories
- Kong Konnect
- Kong Gateway workflows
- AWS Secrets Manager
- Google Cloud Secret Manager
- Azure Key Vault
- HashiCorp Vault
- OIDC identity providers
- SAML identity providers
- Insomnia Plugin Hub
AI and MCP
- MCP client support
- MCP server inspection
- AI-assisted mock generation
- AI commit message suggestions
- Configurable LLM providers
Insomnia Specifications
| Product type | Open-source desktop API client |
|---|---|
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Supported desktop systems | macOS, Windows, Linux, Ubuntu |
| Supported protocols | REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, HTTP-compatible protocols |
| API formats | OpenAPI 3.0, OpenAPI 3.1, Swagger, GraphQL, AsyncAPI, Insomnia, Postman, HAR, WSDL, cURL |
| Storage options | Local vault, Git Sync, Cloud Sync |
| CLI automation | Inso CLI |
| Free plan | Essentials |
| Free trial | No separate trial verified; free Essentials plan available |
| Vendor acquisition | Acquired by Kong Inc. in October 2019 |
| Latest verified release | 13.1.0 |
Insomnia Pricing & Plans
Pro
$12 per user
month
Includes Essentials features, unlimited users, Git Sync for all users, unlimited organizations, RBAC, and 10,000 monthly mock-server requests. Annual billing receives a 15% discount.
Check current pricing →Enterprise
Contact sales
Adds enterprise identity, SCIM, storage controls, team management, vault integrations, Kong Konnect integration, and enterprise support.
Check current pricing →Pricing may change. Verify current plans on the vendor's website.
Our evidence-based assessment
TechZella Score
A proprietary editorial score based on product capabilities, usability, value, performance, support and user sentiment evidence.
8.5/10Moderate confidence
Insomnia provides broad protocol support, API design, testing, mocking, environments, scripting, plugins, local and Git storage, cloud collaboration, and CLI automation. The free Essentials plan covers substantial individual and small-team workflows, while enterprise controls and support require higher-tier plans. No sufficiently reliable public third-party rating was verified.
Methodology v1.0. The assessment weighs feature coverage (25%), ease of use (15%), value for money (20%), performance (15%), support (10%) and user sentiment (15%), using researched product evidence and verified review evidence where available. It is a TechZella editorial assessment, not a direct user-review average.
Insomnia Pros & Cons
Pros
- Broad protocol coverage for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, and SSE.
- Strong local-first and Git-based workflows.
- Combines API design, testing, mocking, debugging, and CLI automation.
- Free Essentials plan covers many individual and small-team requirements.
- Open-source Apache-2.0 codebase supports customization and community contributions.
- Supports enterprise identity, governance, and vault integrations.
Cons
- Enterprise identity and governance features require a higher-tier plan.
- Pro pricing is charged per user.
- Mock-server requests are subject to monthly plan quotas.
- Linux update behavior varies by installation method.
- Cloud collaboration requires account and synchronization configuration for many workflows.
Community feedback
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Insomnia Competitors & Alternatives
Compare similar products directly, then see which alternatives may make more sense when your requirements differ.
Direct competitors
These products address broadly similar requirements. The descriptions focus on documented reasons a buyer might compare them with Insomnia.
FAQ
What is Insomnia used for?
Insomnia is used to design, send, debug, test, mock, and document APIs.
Which operating systems support Insomnia?
The desktop application supports macOS, Windows, and Linux, including Ubuntu installation options.
Does Insomnia support REST and GraphQL?
Yes. Insomnia supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, and other compatible protocols.
Can Insomnia run API tests in CI/CD?
Yes. The Inso CLI can run collections and test suites, lint OpenAPI specifications, and export specifications for pipeline workflows.
Can Insomnia import Postman collections?
Yes. It supports Postman collection formats 2.0 and 2.1, along with OpenAPI, Swagger, HAR, WSDL, cURL, and native Insomnia formats.
Does Insomnia have a free version?
Yes. The Essentials plan is free and includes core API development features, with defined collaboration and mock-server limits.
Does Insomnia require an account?
The local Scratch Pad can be used without an account. Other capabilities may require an account, depending on storage and collaboration needs.
What integrations does Insomnia provide?
Verified integrations include Git repositories, Kong Konnect, Kong Gateway workflows, cloud and self-hosted mock servers, enterprise identity providers, AWS, GCP, Azure, and HashiCorp vaults.