Insomnia (API client) vs Speedpost — a no‑nonsense comparison
If you’re weighing Insomnia against Speedpost, you’re probably asking a simple question: what gets me to validated APIs faster?
This guide focuses on time‑to‑first‑test, automation, and total cost—with a quick verdict and the exact scenarios where each tool shines.
TL;DR (Quick verdict)
| If you want… | Pick this |
|---|---|
| A popular, open‑source API client with REST/GraphQL/gRPC/WebSockets, robust scripting/chaining, and a CLI for CI | Insomnia. Mature, scriptable, and flexible storage. |
| An AI‑first client that understands your repo, auto‑detects endpoints, and lets you test in natural language | Speedpost. Built to minimize setup and manual authoring. |
| The lowest time from “code change → validated request/assertion” | Speedpost, thanks to repo indexing and NL testing. |
| The simplest pricing for small teams | Speedpost (Free, Pro $10/user/mo billed yearly). Insomnia Hobby $0, Pro $12, Enterprise $45 (annual). |
Why these tools get compared so often
- Insomnia is a collaborative API client—design, debug, test, mock—backed by local/Git/cloud storage and an open‑source core.
- Speedpost is an AI API client: it indexes your repo to auto‑detect endpoints/schemas/auth and lets you “describe a scenario” to generate requests, sequences, and assertions.
Feature comparison (at a glance)
| Category | Insomnia | Speedpost |
|---|---|---|
| Onboarding & Discovery | Import/OpenAPI; Collections; organize in Workspaces. | Indexes your repo; UI pre‑wired from code. |
| Authoring tests | JS tests in Collections; chaining; runner. | Natural language → requests, sequences, assertions. |
| Mock servers | First‑class mocks; self‑hosted option on Enterprise. | Not focused on hosted mocks; optimized for fast local testing. |
| Monitoring | Collection Monitors & alerts. | Roadmap emphasizes AI test flows; monitoring unspecified publicly. |
| Collaboration | Shared workspaces; Git/Cloud; plugin ecosystem. | Early collaboration; prioritizes speed of test creation. |
| Performance feel | Powerful; can feel heavier at scale for some workflows. | Lightweight time‑to‑first‑test via repo indexing + NL. |
| Pricing | Hobby $0; Pro $12; Enterprise $45 (annual). | Free; Pro $10/user/mo (billed yearly); Ultra (coming soon). |
Time to first useful test
Insomnia: import spec → assemble requests → add auth/env → write assertions → (optional) mock/CI. Great if you need classic scripting and CI gates.
Speedpost: point it at your repo → endpoints & schemas are auto‑detected → type a scenario in plain English → it generates requests + assertions. Big payoff during rapid iteration.
Pricing & seat math
| Plan | Insomnia | Speedpost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (Hobby) | $0 |
| Mid tier | Pro $12/user/mo (annual) | Pro $10/user/mo (billed yearly) |
| Enterprise | $45/user/mo (annual) | Ultra – coming soon |
Where Insomnia is still the champ
- Power‑user workflow: scripts, chaining, collection runner, cookie jar, env management.
- Inso CLI for CI; fits orgs with scripted tests and PR gates.
- Storage flexibility: Local, Git, Cloud; open‑source core; plugin hub.
Best fit: teams standardizing on traditional request collections with CI and mocks.
Where Speedpost pulls ahead
- Repo‑aware by default: cut collection drift and manual plumbing.
- Natural‑language testing: describe scenario → requests, sequences, assertions.
- Simple pricing for small teams/startups.
Best fit: solo devs and lean teams who value speed of iteration.
Developer experience: what it feels like day‑to‑day
| Workflow moment | Insomnia | Speedpost |
|---|---|---|
| New endpoint landed | Create/update request; tweak env/auth; optional scripts. | Repo indexed; just describe the scenario and run. |
| Debugging a flaky flow | Adjust JS tests; rerun in runner. | Rephrase scenario; Speedpost regenerates sequence/assertions. |
| Frontend blocked by backend | Use mock servers. | Emphasis is rapid local testing; mocks not a core differentiator. |
| Sharing with QA/PM | Workspaces, doc generation, monitors. | Share reproducible test links from NL scenarios. |
FAQs
Is Speedpost a real Insomnia alternative?
Yes—if you prioritize fast test creation and repo‑aware automation. Insomnia remains stronger for classic scripting, chaining, and CI via Inso.
Can I replace Insomnia’s mocks and CI with Speedpost?
Speedpost focuses on AI‑assisted testing speed rather than hosted mocks/CLI CI. Many teams use both: Speedpost locally for quick authoring, Insomnia for mocks/CI gates.
Final take
- If your priority is classic, scriptable collections with CI and mocks, choose Insomnia.
- If your bottleneck is manual setup and drifting collections, and you want AI to do the heavy lifting, choose Speedpost.