# Insomnia

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

HTTP and GraphQL Client

Category: Developer Tools · Free · Open source · Replaces Postman Solo ($9/month) · [Official website](https://insomnia.rest)

## Install with Homebrew

`brew install --cask insomnia`

## Quick take

In August 2026 Insomnia looks like a real Postman alternative again. Essentials covers small teams, Pro stays predictable at $12 per user per month, and Konnect sync in version 13 is worth it if your APIs already run on Kong. If you want pure Git-local files, Bruno is simpler. If you need the biggest marketplace, Postman still wins. For Kong shops and MCP-aware work, Insomnia belongs on the shortlist.

Best for: Full-Stack Developers needing versatile protocol support, API Architects utilizing OpenApi design-first workflows, Teams integrating with Kong Gateway

## What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is Kong's open-core API client for designing, debugging, mocking, and testing HTTP, gRPC, GraphQL, WebSocket, Socket.IO, SSE, SOAP, and, new in 2026, MCP clients. It is still actively developed. On 16 June 2026 Kong announced Insomnia 13 with native Kong Konnect integration, so collections can discover and sync routes, auth, and environments from Konnect with a personal access token instead of stale OpenAPI imports.

Pricing as listed on insomnia.rest/pricing in August 2026 is seat-based. Essentials is $0 per user per month and includes Git Sync for up to 3 users, unlimited cloud and local projects, Inso CLI, unlimited collection runs and environments, 1,000 mock requests per month, E2EE, custom linting, plugins, and AI quality-of-life features. Pro is $12 per user per month on the annual toggle (the page advertises about 17 percent savings versus monthly) with unlimited Git Sync users, orgs, RBAC, and 10,000 mock requests per month. Enterprise is $45 per user per month, self-serve to 50 seats, adding Konnect integration, SSO and SCIM, storage mandates, domain capture, vault integrations for AWS, GCP, HashiCorp, and Azure, unlimited mocks, and SOC 2 evidence access. A local-only Scratch Pad remains free forever without login.

On Mac, Insomnia ships as a desktop app for Apple Silicon and current macOS including Tahoe 26.x. In the 2026 API-tooling market the usual competitors are Postman, Bruno, Hoppscotch, HTTPie Desktop, and Paw/RapidAPI. Insomnia's edge is Kong and Konnect alignment plus a free Essentials tier that feels credible again after the earlier cloud-sync controversies.

In practice, Mac API teams keep Insomnia next to curl and httpie. Secrets live in vault-backed Enterprise environments or local dotenv-style env groups, Git Sync collections back contract tests, and Inso CLI fails the pipeline when lint or test suites regress. After the growing pains of the Kong acquisition era around mandatory accounts, the 2026 packaging restores a usable free tier and a clear local Scratch Pad escape hatch.

## Features

- **Multi-Protocol API Debugging.** Build and send REST, gRPC, GraphQL, SOAP, WebSocket, Socket.IO, and SSE requests with environments, pre-request/after-response scripting, and collection runner support. Unlimited collection runs are included on every published plan.
- **Kong Konnect Sync (Insomnia 13).** Enterprise/Konnect-connected workflows authenticate with a Konnect PAT to pull live endpoints, routes, and auth settings into Insomnia so collections track the gateway source of truth. Announced 16 June 2026 as the headline Insomnia 13 platform story.
- **Git Sync & Cloud Collaboration.** Essentials includes unlimited Git Sync projects for up to three users; Pro unlocks Git Sync for all seats plus unlimited organizations and RBAC. Native Insomnia cloud sync and end-to-end encryption remain available for teams that prefer managed storage.
- **API Design, Mocking & Inso CLI.** Edit OpenAPI specs with live preview and linting (custom rules on paid/Essentials feature list), spin up mock servers (1k free req/mo on Essentials, 10k on Pro, unlimited on Enterprise; overage $10 per 25k), and automate via Inso CLI in CI.
- **MCP Clients & AI QoL Features.** The current pricing matrix lists MCP client creation with OAuth including Dynamic Client Registration, plus AI quality-of-life features on Essentials and above. That positions Insomnia for API and agent workflows, not just REST debugging.
- **Scratch Pad & Local-First Escape Hatch.** Developers who refuse accounts can download Insomnia and use the local-only Scratch Pad free forever. Enterprise can further mandate local, Git, or cloud project storage for compliance.

## How to Install Insomnia on Mac

Download the macOS build from insomnia.rest or install via Homebrew cask if you prefer CLI provisioning. Apple Silicon and Intel are supported; use the current stable build on macOS Sequoia or Tahoe 26.x. Sign-in is optional if you only need Scratch Pad.

1. **Install via Homebrew (Recommended).** For the fastest installation and easy updates, open your Terminal and run: `brew install --cask insomnia`
2. **Manual DMG Installation.** Alternatively, visit the official download page at `insomnia.rest/download`, select 'Download for macOS', and drag the Insomnia.app file into your Applications folder.
3. **Initial Launch & Permissions.** Open Insomnia from Spotlight. On the first run, macOS Gatekeeper may verify the developer signature. Click 'Open' and grant network permissions if prompted.

## Pros

- Generous Essentials free tier with CLI, mocks, and multi-protocol clients
- Native Kong Konnect sync in Insomnia 13 reduces stale collection drift
- Clear seat pricing ($0 / $12 / $45) without surprise request metering on collection runs
- Scratch Pad preserves local-only workflows for security-sensitive Macs
- Plugin ecosystem (350+ community plugins cited by Kong) for custom auth and tooling

## Cons

- Git Sync collaborator limits on Essentials push growing teams to Pro quickly
- Mock request caps on free/Pro can surprise high-traffic contract-testing setups
- Heavier Electron-style desktop footprint versus ultra-light alternatives like Bruno

## Architecture: The Evolution of Insomnia

Insomnia pairs a cross-platform desktop client with optional cloud collaboration and first-party Kong platform hooks. Where data lives, whether Scratch Pad, local project, Git remote, Insomnia cloud, or Konnect-sourced, decides both your security posture and which invoice you get.

## FAQ

### Is Insomnia free in 2026?

Yes. The Essentials plan is $0 per user/month with substantial limits ( Git Sync capped at 3 users and 1,000 mock requests/month). The Scratch Pad is free forever without an account.

### How much does Insomnia Pro cost?

Pro is listed at $12 per user/month on insomnia.rest/pricing when using the annual savings toggle (about 17% off monthly). It adds unlimited Git Sync users, organizations, RBAC, and 10,000 mock requests/month.

### What is Insomnia Enterprise pricing?

Enterprise is $45 per user/month, self-serve up to 50 users, with Kong Konnect integration, SSO/SCIM, vault integrations, unlimited mocks, and SOC 2 evidence access. Larger fleets contact Kong sales. A 14-day trial is offered.

### What is new in Insomnia 13?

Kong’s 16 June 2026 announcement highlights Insomnia 13 integrating with Kong Konnect so developers can discover and test live API/AI endpoints, pulling environments with a Konnect personal access token instead of manual spec imports.

### Does Insomnia run on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. The macOS desktop build runs on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and is suitable for current macOS releases including Tahoe 26.x. Download from insomnia.rest.

### How does Insomnia compare to Postman or Bruno?

Postman remains the collaboration default for large enterprises; Bruno emphasises Git-native local collections with a simpler freemium story; Insomnia sits between them with strong multi-protocol support and first-party Kong Konnect alignment for gateway-centric teams.

### Does Insomnia support MCP clients?

Yes. Kong’s current pricing comparison lists MCP client creation with OAuth including Dynamic Client Registration across the compared plans.

### Can I use Insomnia offline?

Local projects and the Scratch Pad work without cloud login. Git Sync and Konnect features require network access when you choose those storage/collaboration modes.

## Sources

- [Insomnia Pricing](https://insomnia.rest/pricing)
- [Kong Insomnia product page](https://konghq.com/products/kong-insomnia)
- [Insomnia 13 + Kong Konnect integration announcement](https://konghq.com/company/press-room/press-release/kong-announces-insomnia-and-kong-konnect-integration-to-unify-api-and-ai-development-workflows)
- [Insomnia homepage](https://insomnia.rest/)
- [Insomnia documentation](https://docs.insomnia.rest/)
- [Insomnia Pricing (2026) verified capture](https://frontdeskreview.com/software/api-testing/insomnia/)

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- [Insomnia vs Postman](https://bundl.run/compare/insomnia-vs-postman)
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- [Free alternative to Postman Solo](https://bundl.run/https:/)

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