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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Insomnia

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Insomnia logo

Insomnia

Testing

REST and GraphQL API client for development and testing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; Insomnia git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Insomnia covers REST API Client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Insomnia actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Insomnia differ
AttributeBlacksmithInsomnia
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWindows, MacOS, Linux, Web
CategoryDeveloper ToolsTesting
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Blacksmith

  • Bare metal runners
  • Multiple OS support
  • ARM support
  • Docker layer caching
  • Sticky disks
  • GitHub Actions observability
  • Free tier
  • Static IPs

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.

Blacksmith

  • Replacing GitHub Actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructurenot Insomnia
  • Accelerating CI build times for organizations with heavy CI loadnot Insomnia
  • Reducing cloud spend on GitHub Actions by 60% or morenot Insomnia
  • Supporting ARM architecture builds without GitHub runnersnot Insomnia

Insomnia

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

Where each one falls short

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

Blacksmith

  • Per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs
  • macOS M4 pricing ($0.08/min) is significantly higher than GitHub Actions
  • Docker layer caching and sticky disks are paid add-ons at $0.50/GB/mo
  • Static IP add-on costs $100/IP/mo

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

Blacksmith

Free
  • Ubuntu x64$0.004/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • Ubuntu ARM$0.0025/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • Windows x64$0.008/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • macOS M4$0.08/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads

Insomnia

Free
  • EssentialsFree
    • unlimited Cloud/Local projects
    • up to 3 users with Git Sync
    • 1,000 mock server requests/month
  • Pro$12/user/month
    • unlimited users with Git Sync access
    • unlimited organizations
    • role-based access control
  • Enterprise$45/user/month
    • Kong Konnect integration
    • SSO (SAML/OIDC)
    • SCIM provisioning

Which should you pick?

Choose Blacksmith if

  • You need bare metal runners.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want multiple os support.
Blacksmith 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 Blacksmith or Insomnia better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith 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, Blacksmith or Insomnia?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Insomnia at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Insomnia run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Insomnia runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Blacksmith best used for?
Blacksmith is most often used for replacing github actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructure, accelerating ci build times for organizations with heavy ci load, reducing cloud spend on github actions by 60% or more, supporting arm architecture builds without github runners. Of those, replacing github actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructure and accelerating ci build times for organizations with heavy ci load are not what Insomnia is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Insomnia cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Insomnia covers REST API Client, GraphQL Support, gRPC Support, GitHub.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blacksmith: How much do Blacksmith runners cost compared to GitHub Actions?

Blacksmith offers 60-75% cost savings depending on OS. Ubuntu x64 costs $0.004/min vs GitHub at $0.012/min. All plans include 3,000 free minutes monthly.

Source
Insomnia: How much does Insomnia cost?

Insomnia offers a free Essentials plan. Pro plans cost $12 per user per month with annual billing offering 17% savings. Enterprise plans cost $45 per user per month with support for up to 50 users self-serve; contact sales for larger teams.

Source
Blacksmith: Can I use Docker layer caching with Blacksmith?

Yes, Docker layer caching is available as an add-on at $0.50/GB/mo. Managed Docker layer persistence is included with the base service.

Source
Insomnia: Is there a free version of Insomnia?

Yes, the Essentials plan is free and includes unlimited Cloud and Local projects, Git Sync for up to 3 users, 1,000 mock server requests per month, Inso CLI, E2EE, custom linting, plugins, and AI features.

Source
Blacksmith: What is the SLA for Enterprise plans?

Enterprise Blacksmith plans include a 99.9% SLA guarantee along with 24/7 priority support, dedicated Slack channels, white-glove onboarding, and CI optimization support.

Source
Insomnia: What mock server request limits apply to Insomnia plans?

Essentials includes 1,000 mock server requests per month. Pro includes 10,000 requests per month. Enterprise includes unlimited mock server requests. Additional mock server requests beyond plan allowances cost $10 per 25,000 requests.

Source
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