Insomnia vs Yaak

Insomnia is an API collaboration platform for designing, testing, debugging, mocking, and governing APIs. Its client supports HTTP, REST, gRPC, GraphQL, WebSockets, SOAP, and SSE. Design workflows include OpenAPI spec-first work, live previews, and generation of collections, tests, and mocks. Mocks can be generated from collections, OpenAPI specifications, API responses, or natural-language descriptions, locally or in the cloud. The collection runner supports unlimited runs, JavaScript before-request and after-response scripts, chained requests, and CI/CD execution through Inso CLI. Insomnia also connects to HTTP and STDIO MCP servers, supports custom tool parameters, and provides MCP authentication event logs. API data can stay local, reside in a Git repository, or be stored in Insomnia Cloud with optional end-to-end encryption. Teams can share projects, collections, mocks, and design specifications with organization controls and real-time collaboration indicators. Essentials is free; Pro is $12 a month per user, and Enterprise is $45 a month per user. It supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted use.

Yaak is a local-first desktop API client for sending requests, debugging APIs, and collaborating through Git. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and supports HTTP/REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, and server-sent events. Users can arrange requests in workspaces and folders, switch environments, and reuse authentication and variables. Directory sync stores requests, folders, and environments as individual YAML files for Git workflows.

Yaak imports work from Postman, Insomnia, Bruno, OpenAPI, and curl. Plugins support authentication, importers, and template functions, with a 1Password plugin for retrieving passwords. The desktop app stores data locally and sends API requests directly to chosen servers; it has no built-in analytics or tracking. Optional workspace secret encryption uses XChaCha20-Poly1305, with the master key protected by the operating system keychain. Free use is for personal purposes; commercial use requires a license. Individual Annual costs $79 a year, and a 30-day trial is available.