Insomnia

Insomnia

An open-source API client by Kong — fast request building with Git sync and design-first workflows.

Developer Toolsfreemium
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What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is Kong's open-source API client, long favored by developers who find Postman heavier than the job requires. It handles REST, GraphQL, gRPC, SSE, and WebSocket requests in a clean desktop interface, with environments, code generation, and a design mode for editing OpenAPI specs alongside live requests. Collections can sync through Git or Kong's cloud, and a local-vault option keeps secrets on your machine — a draw for teams with strict data policies. Because the core client is MIT-licensed and the project lives on GitHub, plugins and community themes extend it freely. Insomnia suits developers who want a quick, scriptable request tool that respects spec-driven workflows without the weight of a full API management suite.
Key Features

REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, and SSE request support

Design mode for editing OpenAPI specs next to live requests

Git sync plus local vault for keeping secrets off the cloud

Environment variables, chained requests, and code generation

Open-source core with a community plugin ecosystem

Use Cases
  • Day-to-day API debugging without heavyweight tooling
  • Spec-first API design reviewed through Git pull requests
  • Testing gRPC and GraphQL services in one client
  • Teams that need secrets kept local for compliance
How to Use Insomnia
  1. 1Download Insomnia for macOS, Windows, or Linux
  2. 2Create a collection or import an OpenAPI spec, cURL, or Postman export
  3. 3Set up environments and send requests
  4. 4Sync via Git or Insomnia Cloud to share with your team
Best For
Developers who want a faster, leaner Postman alternativeSpec-driven teams designing APIs in OpenAPIPrivacy-conscious teams using Git sync and local vaults
FAQ

Is Insomnia free and open source?

The Insomnia client is open source under the MIT license and free to use. Kong sells paid plans (from around $12 per user/month) that add cloud sync, RBAC, and enterprise features.

Can Insomnia import Postman collections?

Yes. Insomnia imports Postman collections and environments, plus OpenAPI specs, cURL commands, and HAR files, so switching costs are low.

Does Insomnia support gRPC?

Yes. Insomnia has first-class gRPC support including proto file management, alongside REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and server-sent events.

Tags
APITestingOpen Source
Quick Info
CategoryDeveloper Tools
Pricingfreemium
Platformsmacos, windows, linux
Websiteinsomnia.rest

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