Hoppscotch vs Insomnia
Hoppscotch and Insomnia are both popular tools in the API Development space. Both use a open-source pricing model, with Hoppscotch starting at Free and Insomnia at Free. Both offer a free tier to get started. Below we break down features, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses to help you decide which tool fits your workflow best.
Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Choose Hoppscotch if you want open-source api development ecosystem — lightweight and fast.. Hoppscotch's biggest strengths include completely free and open-source and lightning fast — runs in the browser with no bloat. Choose Insomnia if you prefer open-source api client for rest, graphql, grpc, and websocket testing.. Key advantages include clean, focused interface without postman's bloat and excellent graphql and grpc support.
Open-source API development ecosystem — lightweight and fast.
Open-source API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket testing.
| Hoppscotch | Insomnia | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | Open-source | Open-source |
| Rating | ★ 4.2 | ★ 4.2 |
| Categories | API Development | API Development |
| Key Features | 6 features | 6 features |
| Feature | Hoppscotch | Insomnia |
|---|---|---|
| REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and MQTT support | ✓ | — |
| Browser-based — no installation needed | ✓ | — |
| API testing with pre and post-request scripts | ✓ | — |
| Team collaboration with shared collections | ✓ | — |
| Code generation in multiple languages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-hosted option for enterprise teams | ✓ | — |
| REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket support | — | ✓ |
| Environment variables and request chaining | — | ✓ |
| Git sync for team collaboration | — | ✓ |
| Plugin system for extensibility | — | ✓ |
| OpenAPI design and linting | — | ✓ |
Hoppscotch
Pros
- + Completely free and open-source
- + Lightning fast — runs in the browser with no bloat
- + Supports protocols beyond REST (GraphQL, WebSocket, MQTT)
- + Self-hostable for enterprise privacy requirements
Cons
- − Smaller ecosystem and plugin support than Postman
- − No built-in AI features yet
- − Team features require self-hosted enterprise edition
Insomnia
Pros
- + Clean, focused interface without Postman's bloat
- + Excellent GraphQL and gRPC support
- + Open-source with self-hosted option
- + Git-based collaboration keeps data in your control
Cons
- − Smaller plugin ecosystem than Postman
- − Cloud sync features require paid plan
- − Recent licensing changes have concerned community
The Bottom Line
Choose Hoppscotch if: you want open-source api development ecosystem — lightweight and fast.. It's completely free to use. Keep in mind: smaller ecosystem and plugin support than postman.
Choose Insomnia if: you prefer open-source api client for rest, graphql, grpc, and websocket testing.. It's completely free to use. Keep in mind: smaller plugin ecosystem than postman.
Both tools compete in the API Development space. The right choice depends on your specific needs, team size, and budget.
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