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Software · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs Insomnia

AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

Software

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Insomnia logo

Insomnia

Software

REST and GraphQL API client for development and testing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer; Insomnia git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, Insomnia covers REST API Client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS API Gateway and Insomnia actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and Insomnia differ
AttributeAWS API GatewayInsomnia
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsAWS CloudWindows, MacOS, Linux, Web
Founded20062010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs
  • WebSocket APIs
  • HTTP APIs
  • Lambda
  • EC2
  • DynamoDB
  • CloudWatch
  • IAM

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.

AWS API Gateway

  • Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot Insomnia
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot Insomnia
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot Insomnia
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot Insomnia
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot Insomnia

Insomnia

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

Where each one falls short

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

AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
  • WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
  • Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
  • The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
  • The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing

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

AWS API Gateway

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M requests per month
    • Basic API management
  • Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
    • Unlimited requests
    • HTTP APIs
    • REST APIs

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 AWS API Gateway if

  • You need rest apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS Cloud.
  • You also want websocket apis.
AWS API Gateway 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 AWS API Gateway or Insomnia better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Insomnia at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS API Gateway or Insomnia?
AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Insomnia at Free.
Does AWS API Gateway or Insomnia run on more platforms?
AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. Insomnia runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web.
Can I use AWS API Gateway for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AWS API Gateway best used for?
AWS API Gateway is most often used for fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint, rest and http api management with throttling and keys, websocket apis for real-time clients, private apis reachable only inside a vpc. Of those, fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint and rest and http api management with throttling and keys are not what Insomnia is typically brought in for.
What can AWS API Gateway do that Insomnia cannot?
AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda. Insomnia covers REST API Client, GraphQL Support, gRPC Support, GitHub.
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