Hoppscotch vs Insomnia
Self-host swap-in for Insomnia. · Self-host Insomnia · Hoppscotch on os-alt
Hoppscotch is one of the open-source self-host replacements for Insomnia — license MIT, 20min docker-compose (Hoppscotch + Postgres + admin dashboard) to stand up, and $5-10 vps; can also run as static frontend with no backend if you don't need team sync. Compare against Insomnia's Free tier (Scratch Pad only); Individual $5/user/mo; Team $12/user/mo for cloud sync below.
| Hoppscotchopen-source | Insomniapaid SaaS | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | API client / HTTP request testing | API client / HTTP request testing |
| License / pricing | MIT | Free tier (Scratch Pad only); Individual $5/user/mo; Team $12/user/mo for cloud sync |
| Starting price | $0 self-host | $5/user/mo |
| GitHub | hoppscotch/hoppscotch | closed source |
| Setup time | 20min docker-compose (Hoppscotch + Postgres + admin dashboard) | SaaS — sign up + bill |
| Monthly cost | $5-10 VPS; can also run as static frontend with no backend if you don't need team sync. | from $5/user/mo (Free tier (Scratch Pad only); Individual $5/user/mo; Team $12/user/mo for cloud sync) |
Switching from Insomnia to Hoppscotch
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 for
- Teams that want a browser-based Postman-shaped UI with self-hosted team sync.
- Weak at
- Desktop-app feel — it's a PWA at heart; some power users prefer a native binary.
Other open-source self-host alternatives to Insomnia
Hoppscotch also replaces
- Postman— API client / API workspace
In a terminal? npx os-alt insomnia prints Insomnia's self-host options —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Is Hoppscotch a free alternative to Insomnia?
Yes — Hoppscotch is open source under MIT. Self-host cost: $5-10 VPS; can also run as static frontend with no backend if you don't need team sync.. Insomnia starts at $5/user/mo (Free tier (Scratch Pad only); Individual $5/user/mo; Team $12/user/mo for cloud sync).
How long does Hoppscotch take to set up vs Insomnia?
Self-hosting Hoppscotch: 20min docker-compose (Hoppscotch + Postgres + admin dashboard). Insomnia is a hosted SaaS — sign up and you're in.
What is Hoppscotch good at, and what is it weak at?
Good fit for: Teams that want a browser-based Postman-shaped UI with self-hosted team sync.. Weak at: Desktop-app feel — it's a PWA at heart; some power users prefer a native binary..