Alternatives to Insomnia
An API client for REST, GraphQL and gRPC that can keep everything local or sync through Git instead of a cloud. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Insomnia
An API client for REST, GraphQL and gRPC that can keep everything local or sync through Git instead of a cloud.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Insomnia.
Postman
The most widely used API client, for sending HTTP requests, organising them into collections and sharing them with a team.
Postman is closed source and cloud-first, but its collections are widespread and it generates documentation and mock servers with a browser version available.
Bruno
An API client that saves collections as plain files in a folder, so Git handles the sharing instead of a cloud account.
Bruno is MIT licensed, offline only with no planned cloud sync, and stores collections as plain files shared through Git.
Yaak
An offline-first API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets and SSE, with requests stored as files you can commit to git.
Yaak is MIT licensed, offline-first with no telemetry or cloud account, and imports existing Insomnia collections.
Hoppscotch
A fast API client that runs in a browser tab, with a self-hostable workspace if you want one.
Hoppscotch is lighter and runs in a browser or self-hosted, but has fewer testing and mocking features than Insomnia.
Kreya
Desktop client for gRPC, REST, GraphQL, WebSocket and SSE APIs.
Kreya is a closed source desktop client with gRPC reflection support and Git-friendly local project files, with some paid features.
Thunder Client
Lightweight REST and GraphQL client built into VS Code.
Thunder Client runs inside VS Code and JetBrains editors, supports only REST and GraphQL, and is closed source.
RapidAPI for Mac
Native macOS HTTP client, formerly Paw, with code generation and team sync.
RapidAPI for Mac is a free native macOS client with code generation and team sync, but it is closed source and macOS only.
Apidog
An API platform for designing, debugging, mocking and testing APIs, with desktop and web clients.
Apidog combines design, debugging, mocking and testing with a web client, but it is closed source rather than Apache-2.0 licensed.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Insomnia as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Altair GraphQL Client
A GraphQL client for writing, sending and debugging queries on desktop, in a browser extension and online.
Insomnia covers GraphQL alongside REST, gRPC, WebSockets and Server-Sent Events, adds an OpenAPI editor, but most features expect an account.
Apifox
An API platform for designing, debugging, mocking and testing APIs, with desktop and web clients.
Insomnia is open source under Apache-2.0 with an OpenAPI editor, test suites and mocking, and can keep data local or sync through Git instead of a cloud.
Apollo Sandbox
A free web-based GraphQL explorer for writing and running queries against any GraphQL endpoint.
Insomnia is an open-source desktop client covering GraphQL alongside REST, gRPC and WebSockets, with local storage or Git sync instead of Apollo's hosted service.
EchoAPI
An API client for designing, debugging, load testing and documenting APIs, compatible with Postman scripts.
Insomnia is open source under Apache-2.0 with testing, mocking and an OpenAPI editor, though most of its features expect an account.
Evans
An interactive command-line gRPC client with a REPL mode for exploring and calling services.
Insomnia is a desktop client covering gRPC alongside REST, GraphQL and WebSockets under Apache-2.0, though most features expect an account.
Firecamp
An open-source API client for testing REST, GraphQL, WebSocket and Socket.IO requests in the browser.
Insomnia moves to an open-source desktop client covering REST, GraphQL, gRPC and WebSockets, with local storage or Git sync, though most features expect an account.
grpcui
A command-line tool that opens an interactive browser interface for sending requests to gRPC servers.
Insomnia is a desktop client covering gRPC with REST, GraphQL and WebSockets under Apache-2.0, though most features expect an account.
grpcurl
Call gRPC services from the terminal using JSON input.
Insomnia is a desktop GUI supporting gRPC alongside REST and GraphQL, open source under Apache-2.0, though most features expect an account.
Hurl
Write HTTP requests and response checks in plain text files.
Insomnia adds test suites, a runner and a CLI for pipelines in a desktop app, though most features expect an account.
Milkman
An extensible open-source desktop workbench for sending requests and inspecting responses across many protocols.
Insomnia is an open-source client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC and WebSockets with Git Sync and a command line tool, and has a larger user base than Milkman.
Newman
A command-line runner that executes Postman collections outside the Postman app.
Insomnia includes a command line tool for linting and testing in a pipeline, with open-source Apache-2.0 licensing and test suites built in its own client.
Posting
A keyboard-driven HTTP client with a text interface that runs in the terminal.
Insomnia is a graphical Apache-2.0 desktop client adding GraphQL, gRPC and WebSockets plus an OpenAPI editor, but it runs on Electron and most features expect an account.
ReqBin
An online tool for sending REST and SOAP API requests directly from the browser.
Insomnia is an open-source desktop client for REST, GraphQL and gRPC with test suites and mocking, requiring an install and usually an account instead of a quick browser visit.
Requestly
An API client for designing and testing APIs, plus a browser HTTP interceptor for modifying requests.
Insomnia is open source under Apache-2.0 with REST, GraphQL and gRPC support and optional Git Sync, but it has no browser interception for rewriting requests.
RESTer
A browser extension for Firefox and Chrome for crafting and sending HTTP requests.
Insomnia moves to an open-source desktop application with REST, GraphQL, gRPC, testing and mocking, heavier than an extension and expecting an account for most features.
Restfox
A lightweight, offline-first open-source HTTP client that runs in the browser and on the desktop.
Insomnia is an open-source desktop client with GraphQL, gRPC, an OpenAPI editor and test suites, but it is heavier and most features expect an account.
Scalar API Client
An open-source, OpenAPI-aware API client for sending and testing HTTP requests, from the Scalar API platform.
Insomnia is an Apache-2.0 desktop client with its own OpenAPI editor, test suites and a CLI for pipelines, though most features expect an account.
SoapUI Open Source
An open-source desktop tool for functional testing of SOAP and REST APIs.
Insomnia is an Apache-2.0 client adding GraphQL, gRPC and an OpenAPI editor with test suites and a CLI, though it lacks SoapUI's SOAP and WSDL focus.
Step CI
An open-source API test automation framework that runs multi-step workflows written in YAML, JSON or JavaScript.
Insomnia combines a desktop client for manual requests with a command line tool for testing in a pipeline, and is open source under Apache-2.0.
Stoplight
A web platform for designing OpenAPI descriptions, generating API documentation and running mock servers.
Insomnia offers an OpenAPI editor with visual preview, test suites and mocking in an open source desktop client rather than a hosted platform.
Swagger Editor
A browser-based editor for writing OpenAPI definitions and sending live requests to the API.
Insomnia includes an OpenAPI editor with a visual preview inside a desktop API client, adding test suites, mocking and saved requests, and is open source under Apache-2.0.
Testfully
An API client for building, testing, documenting and monitoring APIs, usable offline or with cloud storage.
Insomnia is open source under Apache-2.0, supports local storage or Git sync, and adds REST, GraphQL, gRPC, an OpenAPI editor and a pipeline CLI.
Warthog
A cross-platform desktop GUI client for calling and testing gRPC services.
Insomnia is an open-source desktop client for gRPC along with REST, GraphQL and WebSockets, with Git sync, though most features expect an account.
websocat
A command-line WebSocket client and server, like netcat or curl for ws:// with socat-style features.
Insomnia is a graphical Apache-2.0 client supporting WebSockets alongside REST, GraphQL and gRPC, though it cannot act as a WebSocket server or work in pipes.
WebSocket King
A web-based client for connecting to, testing and debugging WebSocket servers.
Insomnia is an open-source desktop client that supports WebSockets along with REST, GraphQL, gRPC and SSE, requiring installation rather than running in the browser.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Swagger UI
Renders an OpenAPI description as interactive, testable documentation.
Beeceptor
A web service for creating mock API servers and inspecting incoming webhook requests in real time.
HTTPie
Human-friendly command line HTTP client with colourised output.
