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Software · head to head

3scale vs Insomnia

3scale logo

3scale

Software

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Insomnia logo

Insomnia

Software

REST and GraphQL API client for development and testing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Insomnia has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 3scale red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date; Insomnia git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers API Gateway, Insomnia covers REST API Client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and Insomnia actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and Insomnia differ
Attribute3scaleInsomnia
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridWindows, MacOS, Linux, Web
Founded19932010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3scale

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • API Monetization
  • Red Hat OpenShift
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud support

Only in Insomnia

  • REST API Client
  • GraphQL Support
  • gRPC Support
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Slack
  • Windows support
  • MacOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3scale

  • API gateway and lifecycle managementnot Insomnia
  • Rate limiting and traffic control across API consumersnot Insomnia
  • Developer portal and access key managementnot Insomnia
  • Monetising APIs with usage-based plansnot Insomnia
  • Hybrid deployment across on-premises and cloudnot Insomnia

Insomnia

  • Sending and debugging HTTP, GraphQL and gRPC requestsnot 3scale
  • Storing collections in Git rather than a vendor cloudnot 3scale
  • Mocking an API endpoint before it existsnot 3scale
  • Running collections in CI with the Inso CLInot 3scale
  • Environment management across staging and productionnot 3scale

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3scale

  • Red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date
  • Sold as part of Red Hat middleware rather than standalone, and 3scale.net redirects into redhat.com
  • Pricing is not published and a subscription is required for some services

Insomnia

  • Git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only
  • Mock servers are capped at 1,000 requests a month on free, then $10 per 25,000
  • Role-based access control requires Pro at $12 per user per month
  • SSO, SCIM and vault integrations are Enterprise only at $45 per user per month
  • Working without an account is limited to the local-only Scratch Pad

Pricing, plan by plan

3scale

$300/monthly
  • Starter$300/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Developer portal
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$750/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • API monetization
    • Enhanced support
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Dedicated support
    • Premium SLA

Insomnia

Free
  • FreeFree
    • REST, GraphQL, gRPC support
    • Local data
  • Pro$5/monthly
    • Cloud sync
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced features
  • Team$30/monthly
    • Team management
    • Advanced analytics
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose 3scale if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want developer portal.
3scale review

Choose Insomnia if

  • You need rest api client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web.
  • You also want graphql support.
Insomnia review

Questions people ask

Is 3scale or Insomnia better?
Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and Insomnia at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3scale or Insomnia?
Insomnia has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/monthly for 3scale and Free for Insomnia.
Does 3scale or Insomnia run on more platforms?
3scale runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. Insomnia runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web.
Can I use Insomnia for free?
Yes. Insomnia has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3scale starts at $300/monthly.
What is 3scale best used for?
3scale is most often used for api gateway and lifecycle management, rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers, developer portal and access key management, monetising apis with usage-based plans. Of those, api gateway and lifecycle management and rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers are not what Insomnia is typically brought in for.
What can 3scale do that Insomnia cannot?
3scale covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift. Insomnia covers REST API Client, GraphQL Support, gRPC Support, GitHub.
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