— Developer Tool

Insomnia

Last updated July 16, 2026 · Reviewed by ToolForge Editorial

The collaborative API client for designing, debugging, and testing REST/GraphQL/gRPC.

★ 4.6/5 · 500K+ devs · Since 2015 · Free tier (local)
Free / $12/mo Pro plan
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The fastest way to get more done with Insomnia

Insomnia is a open-core API client that rivals Postman. Design requests, chain them with variables, write inline tests, and sync collections with your team. In 2026 its AI assistant writes request specs and generates tests from OpenAPI.

Who it's for: Backend and full-stack engineers who live in HTTP/GraphQL and want a fast, Git-friendly client.

Key features

Requests Multi-protocol

REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket in one workspace.

Tests Inline assertions

Write tests in JavaScript; run them in CI via the CLI.

Env Variables

Switch environments (dev/staging/prod) without editing requests.

AI Spec gen

Generate request collections from an OpenAPI spec automatically.

The honest take

✓ What works

  • Faster and lighter than Postman
  • Git-friendly local-first
  • Great GraphQL support
  • Solid free tier

✗ What doesn't

  • Team sync is paid
  • Plugin ecosystem smaller than Postman
  • No native browser tests
  • Occasional UI lag on huge collections

Verdict

Insomnia earns its place in a modern AI stack for anyone who values developer workflows done right. For Free / $12/mo it punches above its weight — and the free tier is genuinely usable. Worth a look before you commit to a heavier alternative.

💡 Transparency: This review contains affiliate links. If you sign up through our link, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. We only recommend tools we use ourselves. Full disclosure.

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Try Insomnia today

Free / $12/mo · Free tier (local)

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