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Head-to-head · API Testing Tools

Insomnia vs Bruno

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 8 checks side by side
Higher score Insomnia #6 in API Testing Tools 8.7/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 6 features Visit Insomnia
Bruno #7 in API Testing Tools 8.6/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 6 features Visit Bruno

Insomnia leads on 0 checks, Bruno on 1, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 8 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreInsomnia · 8.7/10
  • Lowest starting priceBruno · $6/user/mo
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialboth
  • Most featuresBruno · 5 of 6

Insomnia scores higher on our rubric for api testing tools: 8.7 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

Bruno is cheaper to start at $6/user/mo against $12/user/mo.

Insomnia is the better fit for developers needing a flexible open-source API client. Bruno is the better fit for open-source teams wanting a modern API client.

  • Insomnia fits best

    Developers needing a flexible open-source API client

  • Bruno fits best

    Open-source teams wanting a modern API client

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Insomnia 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Bruno 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #6 in API Testing Tools #7 in API Testing Tools
Best for Developers needing a flexible open-source API client Open-source teams wanting a modern API client
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $12/user/mo $6/user/mo (best)
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 14 days 14 days
Free trial length 14 days · no card needed 14 days · no card needed
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email Email, Live chat, Community
Compliance SOC 2, SSO/SAML SOC 2, SSO/SAML
Integrations 9 integrations 9 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Insomnia 4/6 · Bruno 5/6
GraphQL support ✓ ✓
SOAP support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Scheduled runs Not checked yet ✓ (best)
CI/CD integration ✓ ✓
Mock server ✓ ✓
Contract testing Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Included requests Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, SOAP, and SSE
  • Combines scripting, environments, mocking, testing, and OpenAPI tools
  • Offers local, Git, and cloud storage with Inso CLI automation
  • Supports HTTP, REST, GraphQL, SOAP, gRPC, and WebSocket requests
  • Git storage, CLI reporting, mocks, and OpenAPI synchronization
  • Free plan includes unlimited collection runner runs
Cons
  • Essentials Git Sync projects support up to 3 users
  • Role-based access control and SSO/SCIM are Enterprise features
  • Pro costs $12 per user per month when billed monthly
  • Open Source plan limits OpenAPI synchronization to five per month
  • Mock servers are documented as a beta feature
  • Desktop-focused rather than a web-based API workspace
Our verdict

Insomnia is an open-source API collaboration platform for developers and teams building, testing, debugging, and designing APIs. It supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, SOAP, and SSE workflows, making it suited to teams working across…

Read the review →

Bruno is an open-source, local-first API client for developers and teams testing APIs. It supports HTTP, REST, GraphQL, SOAP, gRPC, and WebSocket requests across macOS, Windows, and Linux. Collections are stored as plain-text files on the…

Read the review →
  1. InsomniaAPI Testing Tools 8.7Free plan · 14-day trial
  2. BrunoAPI Testing Tools 8.6Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Insomnia — where it wins

    • Supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, SOAP, and SSE
    • Combines scripting, environments, mocking, testing, and OpenAPI tools
    • Offers local, Git, and cloud storage with Inso CLI automation

    Where it doesn't

    • Essentials Git Sync projects support up to 3 users
    • Role-based access control and SSO/SCIM are Enterprise features
    • Pro costs $12 per user per month when billed monthly

  • Bruno — where it wins

    • Supports HTTP, REST, GraphQL, SOAP, gRPC, and WebSocket requests
    • Git storage, CLI reporting, mocks, and OpenAPI synchronization
    • Free plan includes unlimited collection runner runs

    Where it doesn't

    • Open Source plan limits OpenAPI synchronization to five per month
    • Mock servers are documented as a beta feature
    • Desktop-focused rather than a web-based API workspace
  • Insomnia8.7/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    A flexible, open-source API client with broad protocol support and CLI automation.

    Visit InsomniaFull verdict →
  • Bruno8.6/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    A capable open-source API client for Git-based testing and CI workflows.

    Visit BrunoFull verdict →

More comparisons

All API testing tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update