Insomnia vs Hoppscotch
Insomnia and Hoppscotch are both popular tools in the API Development space. Both use a open-source pricing model, with Insomnia starting at Free and Hoppscotch 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 Insomnia if you want open-source api client for rest, graphql, grpc, and websocket testing.. Insomnia's biggest strengths include clean, focused interface without postman's bloat and excellent graphql and grpc support. Choose Hoppscotch if you prefer open-source api development ecosystem — lightweight and fast.. Key advantages include completely free and open-source and lightning fast — runs in the browser with no bloat.
Open-source API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket testing.
Open-source API development ecosystem — lightweight and fast.
| Insomnia | Hoppscotch | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Insomnia | Hoppscotch |
|---|---|---|
| REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket support | ✓ | — |
| Environment variables and request chaining | ✓ | — |
| Code generation in multiple languages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Git sync for team collaboration | ✓ | — |
| Plugin system for extensibility | ✓ | — |
| OpenAPI design and linting | ✓ | — |
| REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and MQTT support | — | ✓ |
| Browser-based — no installation needed | — | ✓ |
| API testing with pre and post-request scripts | — | ✓ |
| Team collaboration with shared collections | — | ✓ |
| Self-hosted option for enterprise teams | — | ✓ |
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
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
The Bottom Line
Choose Insomnia if: you want 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.
Choose Hoppscotch if: you prefer open-source api development ecosystem — lightweight and fast.. It's completely free to use. Keep in mind: smaller ecosystem and plugin support 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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