Apidog
All-in-one API platform to design, debug, mock, and test with CI/CD
Insomnia
Cross-platform API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and more
Open-source API client supporting GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, SSE, and gRPC. Debug, design, test, and mock APIs with flexible local, Git, or cloud storage options.
Overview
The Complete API Development Platform
Insomnia is a cross-platform API client built for modern development workflows. Whether you're debugging REST endpoints, designing OpenAPI specifications, testing GraphQL queries, or working with gRPC services, Insomnia provides a unified interface for all major API protocols including WebSockets and Server-Sent Events.
Flexible Storage, Maximum Control
Choose how you store your work: Local Vault keeps everything on your machine, Git Sync integrates with any repository without cloud dependencies, and Cloud Sync enables team collaboration with optional end-to-end encryption. Mix storage backends across projects to keep sensitive APIs local while collaborating on others in the cloud. Private Environments ensure configuration secrets never leave your machine.
Built for Teams and CI/CD
Native test suites and collection runners validate API behavior, while the Insomnia CLI integrates linting and testing into your pipelines. Mock servers—cloud-hosted or self-hosted—let you develop against APIs before they exist. A generous free plan covers most users, with premium tiers unlocking unlimited collaboration, Git Sync, organization management, and enterprise SSO (SAML/OIDC). Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Highlights
Multi-protocol support: REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, SSE, and more
Flexible storage: Local Vault, Git Sync, or Cloud Sync with optional E2EE
Native OpenAPI editor with visual preview and design tools
Built-in test suites, collection runner, and CLI for CI/CD integration
Pros
- Supports all major API protocols in a single client
- Complete control over data storage with local, Git, and cloud options
- Native test automation and CLI for seamless CI/CD workflows
- Generous free tier with optional premium features for teams
Considerations
- Account required for most features beyond basic Scratch Pad mode
- Premium features like Git Sync and organizations require paid subscription
- Learning curve for users new to multi-protocol API tooling
- Cloud collaboration features depend on Insomnia's hosted infrastructure
Managed products teams compare with
When teams consider Insomnia, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.
Fit guide
Great for
- Teams needing multi-protocol API testing across REST, GraphQL, and gRPC
- Developers requiring flexible storage with local, Git, or cloud options
- Organizations integrating API testing into CI/CD pipelines
- Security-conscious users who want local-only or Git-based storage
Not ideal when
- Users seeking a completely account-free experience beyond basic features
- Teams unwilling to adopt a freemium model for advanced collaboration
- Projects requiring only simple HTTP requests without protocol diversity
- Organizations needing fully air-gapped solutions without any account creation
How teams use it
Multi-Protocol API Development
Debug REST endpoints, test GraphQL mutations, and validate gRPC services in one unified client without switching tools.
Secure Local API Testing
Store sensitive API collections in Local Vault with Private Environments, ensuring credentials and specs never leave your machine.
Git-Based Team Collaboration
Sync API collections and OpenAPI specs through your existing Git repository, enabling version control and code review workflows.
Automated CI/CD Testing
Integrate Insomnia CLI into build pipelines to lint OpenAPI specs and run collection tests on every commit.
Tech snapshot
TypeScript55%
JavaScript44%
CSS1%
C++1%
Shell1%
NSIS1%
Frequently asked questions
Does Insomnia require an account to use?
The local Scratch Pad works without an account, but most features require a free account. Your API data storage choice (Local Vault, Git Sync, or Cloud Sync) is independent of having an account.
Can I store my API collections completely offline?
Yes. Local Vault stores all collections, design specs, and resources 100% locally on your machine. Private Environments keep configuration secrets local regardless of your chosen storage backend.
What API protocols does Insomnia support?
Insomnia supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, Server-Sent Events (SSE), and any HTTP-compatible protocol, making it suitable for modern API development workflows.
How does Git Sync work?
Git Sync (a premium feature) lets you store API collections and specs in any third-party Git repository without routing data through Insomnia's cloud, enabling version control and team collaboration.
Is there a CLI for automation?
Yes. The Insomnia CLI (inso) enables linting OpenAPI specifications and running test collections in CI/CD pipelines, supporting automated API validation workflows.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 37,832
- Watchers
- 37,832
- Forks
- 2,198
LicenseApache-2.0
Repo age9 years old
Last commit3 hours ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageTypeScript
Last synced 2 hours ago