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Self-host Insomnia
API client / HTTP request testing ·
Category: git hosting, CI & dev tooling
Insomnia is a desktop API client (REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket) that moved to a cloud-required login model in 2023, prompting a wave of self-hostable forks and replacements. The replacements all rebuild request collections + environments + history without forcing a Kong-cloud account on every team member.
Insomnia pricing anchor: Free tier (Scratch Pad only); Individual $5/user/mo; Team $12/user/mo for cloud sync.
- GitHub
- ★ 43.6k · last commit 2d ago · 1647 open issues
- License
-
MIT - Setup time
- 5min installer (desktop app)
- Monthly cost
- $0 — collections live as files in a folder; sync via git, no central server.
Migration sketch. Install Bruno from usebruno.com or your distro repo. Collections → Import → Insomnia: point at the Insomnia v4 export (Application → Preferences → Data → Export Data → All → Insomnia v4). Bruno converts requests, environments, and folders into its `.bru` text files inside a folder you choose. Commit that folder to git for team sync — there's no server to run.
Good fit forTeams that want git-based collection sync (PR reviews on API changes) instead of a SaaS workspace.
Weak atCollaborative real-time editing — Bruno is file-first, so concurrent edits resolve through git merge, not live presence.
- GitHub
- ★ 79.1k · last commit 2d ago · 715 open issues
- License
-
MIT - Setup time
- 20min docker-compose (Hoppscotch + Postgres + admin dashboard)
- Monthly cost
- $5-10 VPS; can also run as static frontend with no backend if you don't need team sync.
Migration sketch. Pull the official compose from docs.hoppscotch.io. Hoppscotch is browser-first — open the web UI, Settings → Import → Insomnia, paste your Insomnia v4 export JSON. The self-hosted edition adds team workspaces, shared collections, and SSO; without backend, it's a single-user PWA that stores collections in browser storage.
Good fit forTeams that want a browser-based Postman-shaped UI with self-hosted team sync.
Weak atDesktop-app feel — it's a PWA at heart; some power users prefer a native binary.
- GitHub
- ★ 3.94k · last commit 14mo ago · 196 open issues
- License
-
MIT - Setup time
- 5min installer
- Monthly cost
- $0 desktop app; no cloud requirement.
Migration sketch. Install HTTPie Desktop from httpie.io. Collections → Import → Insomnia v4 reads the same export Bruno does. HTTPie Desktop is built on top of the long-running HTTPie CLI, so requests round-trip cleanly between the GUI and `http POST api.example.com ...` in your terminal.
Good fit forDevelopers who already love HTTPie's CLI and want a matching GUI for exploratory work.
Weak atNewer than Bruno/Hoppscotch — fewer third-party plugins and team-sync features.
In a terminal? npx os-alt insomnia prints this table —
how the CLI works →