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Kong/insomnia

Open-source cross-platform API client for GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, SSE and gRPC, with local, Git and cloud storage.

Open-source alternative to:Postman

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What is it?

Insomnia is a desktop API client for Mac, Windows and Linux. It lets developers send and inspect requests across GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, gRPC and other HTTP-compatible protocols.

Beyond sending requests, it includes a native OpenAPI design editor with visual preview, built-in test suites and a collection runner, and a mocking server that can run in the cloud or self-hosted. A command-line tool, Inso, supports linting and testing in CI/CD pipelines.

Projects can be stored in a Local Vault, synced through any Git repository, or kept in the cloud for collaboration, with optional end-to-end encryption. Environments can be marked private so they stay local. Plugins extend the app, and a Scratch Pad mode works without an account.

Key features

  • 01Send requests over GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, SSE and gRPC.
  • 02Design APIs with a native OpenAPI editor and visual preview.
  • 03Write and run API tests with a collection runner.
  • 04Mock APIs using a cloud or self-hosted server.
  • 05Store projects locally, in Git, or in the cloud with optional E2EE.
  • 06Lint and test APIs from CI/CD with the Inso CLI.

Use cases

  • Debugging REST or GraphQL endpoints during day-to-day development.
  • Designing and previewing OpenAPI specifications before implementation.
  • Keeping API collections in a Git repository alongside code.
  • Running API tests and linting in a CI/CD pipeline.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Download the desktop app from the website

  2. 2

    Install dependencies from the repository root (development)

    npm i
  3. 3

    Start the app with live reload (development)

    npm run dev

Things to know

  • Most capabilities require a free account, though the local Scratch Pad works without one.
  • Premium features such as Git Sync, SSO and unlimited collaboration need a paid subscription.

Topics

#api-client#rest#graphql#grpc#websocket#openapi#http-client#electron#api#api-design

FAQ

What is insomnia?
Open-source cross-platform API client for GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, SSE and gRPC, with local, Git and cloud storage. Insomnia is a desktop API client for Mac, Windows and Linux. It lets developers send and inspect requests across GraphQL, REST, WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, gRPC and other HTTP-compatible protocols.
Is insomnia free to use? What license does it have?
insomnia is open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is insomnia still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to insomnia was on Oct 20, 2026.
What can I use insomnia for?
Debugging REST or GraphQL endpoints during day-to-day development. Designing and previewing OpenAPI specifications before implementation. Keeping API collections in a Git repository alongside code. Running API tests and linting in a CI/CD pipeline.
How do I install insomnia?
Download the desktop app from the website Install dependencies from the repository root (development): npm i Start the app with live reload (development): npm run dev
Where can I get insomnia?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/Kong/insomnia

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