Insomnia
Open-source API client for REST, GraphQL, and gRPC with environment variables and plugin support.
Overview
Insomnia is a open-source API client for REST, GraphQL, and gRPC with environment variables and plugin support. It handles rest, graphql, grpc, and plugins, and it's best suited for developers wanting a lightweight rest and graphql client. It has been around since 2016, giving it a 10-year head start in building out integrations and refining the product.
The free plan is free for individuals — enough for most people to evaluate whether it fits. Since it's open-source, you can self-host for free with no user limits. It's aimed at individual users, so it's fast to set up but may lack team-management features if you scale.
Strengths
- Open source and transparent
- Includes REST as a core feature, purpose-built for api development workflows
- Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
- Free for individuals — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Weaknesses
- Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in api development
- Community support can be slower than the dedicated support teams at commercial alternatives
Quick info
- Category
- API Development
- Starting price
- Free
- Free tier
- Yes — Free for individuals
- Open source
- Yes
- Best for
- Individuals
- Founded
- 2016
Last updated 2026-04-12
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