Insomnia

API Development · Free · since 2016 · open source

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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.

pros

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

cons

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

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