Comparison · API testing tools

Insomnia vs Yaak: which is better in 2026?

Insomnia ranks higher in our list of API testing tools (#3 against #5, score 88.0 against 85.0).

How we rank Share

  • 88.0
    Editorial score
    85.0
  • 3
    Platforms
    4
  • Yes
    Free to use
    Yes
  • Yes
    Open source
    Yes

Which should you choose?

Choose Insomnia if you want

Commercial client with Git Sync.

A Kong-maintained client with a free local Scratch Pad, Git Sync for small teams and Apache-2.0 source. Team pricing is per user, with Pro at $12 and Enterprise at $45 per user a month.

Choose Yaak if you want

Local-first desktop client with Git files.

A local-first desktop client that stores requests as YAML files for Git. It is free for personal use and MIT-licensed, while work use needs a paid license, and its ecosystem is smaller than Postman's.

Side by side

InsomniaYaak
Score88.085.0
Rank in list#3 of 10#5 of 10
PriceFree plan, paid upgradesFree Scratch Pad and Essentials; Pro $12 and Enterprise $45 per user a monthFree plan, paid upgradesFree for personal use; a paid license is required for work use
Free to useYesYes
Open sourceYesYes
PlatformsmacOSWindowsLinuxmacOS, Windows, LinuxLinuxmacOSWindowsCommand lineLinux, macOS, Windows, Command line
Made byKongNot stated
Collections storedLocal, with optional Git Sync or cloudYAML files in your project
Best forCommercial client with Git SyncLocal-first desktop client with Git files
Strengths
  • Local Scratch Pad with no account
  • Supports many protocols beyond REST
  • Requests stored as YAML files that work with Git
  • Free for personal use
Limits
  • Cloud collaboration requires a paid plan for larger teams
  • Team pricing is per user
  • Work use requires a paid license
  • Smaller ecosystem than Postman
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Insomnia vs Yaak

Is Insomnia better than Yaak?
Insomnia ranks higher in our list of API testing tools (#3 against #5, score 88.0 against 85.0). Insomnia is best for: commercial client with Git Sync. Yaak is best for: local-first desktop client with Git files.
Which is cheaper, Insomnia or Yaak?
Insomnia: Free Scratch Pad and Essentials; Pro $12 and Enterprise $45 per user a month. Yaak: Free for personal use; a paid license is required for work use.
Do Insomnia and Yaak run on the same platforms?
Insomnia supports macOS, Windows, Linux. Yaak supports Linux, macOS, Windows, Command line.