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Software · head to head

Cursor vs Insomnia

Cursor logo

Cursor

Software

The AI-first code editor

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: Cursor cannot work fully offline; AI features require internet connection; Insomnia git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: Cursor covers AI code completion, Insomnia covers REST API Client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cursor and Insomnia actually diverge.

Attributes where Cursor and Insomnia differ
AttributeCursorInsomnia
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWindows, MacOS, Linux, Web
Founded20222010

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 Cursor

  • AI code completion
  • Natural language editing
  • Codebase chat
  • Multi-file editing
  • Code generation
  • Bug fixing assistance
  • Refactoring suggestions
  • AI pair programming

Only in Insomnia

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

Both cover

  • GitHub

What people use each for

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

Cursor

  • AI-assisted codingnot Insomnia
  • Code generationnot Insomnia
  • Bug fixingnot Insomnia
  • Refactoringnot Insomnia
  • Learning new codebasesnot Insomnia
  • Rapid prototypingnot Insomnia

Insomnia

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

Where each one falls short

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

Cursor

  • Cannot work fully offline; AI features require internet connection
  • Local models require requests to route through Cursor's backend, not true localhost support
  • Free tier capped at 2,000 completions per month
  • Codebase indexing uploads code chunks to compute embeddings, with file caching handled server-side

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

Cursor

Free
  • HobbyFree
    • 2,000 completions/month
    • 50 slow premium requests
    • Basic autocomplete
  • Pro$20/month
    • Unlimited completions
    • 500 fast premium requests
    • Composer multi-file editor
  • Pro+$60/month
    • 3x Pro limits on Agent requests
    • Priority feature access
  • Teams Standard$40/user/month
    • All Individual Pro features
    • Centralized billing
    • SAML/OIDC SSO

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 Cursor if

  • You need ai code completion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want natural language editing.
Cursor 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 Cursor or Insomnia better?
Neither clearly leads. Cursor 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, Cursor or Insomnia?
Cursor starts at Free and Insomnia at Free.
Does Cursor or Insomnia run on more platforms?
Cursor runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Insomnia runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web.
Can I use Cursor for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Cursor best used for?
Cursor is most often used for ai-assisted coding, code generation, bug fixing, refactoring. Of those, ai-assisted coding and code generation are not what Insomnia is typically brought in for.
What can Cursor do that Insomnia cannot?
Cursor covers AI code completion, Natural language editing, Codebase chat, Multi-file editing. Insomnia covers REST API Client, GraphQL Support, gRPC Support, GitLab. Both handle GitHub.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cursor: What's included in Cursor's free tier and what are its limits?

The free Hobby plan provides 2,000 completions per month and 50 slow premium requests, with access to basic autocomplete features. Codebase-wide indexing and the Composer multi-file editor are not available on the free plan.

Source
Cursor: Does Cursor require an internet connection to edit code?

While Cursor can open and edit files locally, its AI features including autocomplete, chat, agents, and codebase-aware reasoning require internet access to cloud-hosted models.

Source
Cursor: Can I use Cursor with local models running on my machine?

Cursor can integrate with local models, but requests still route through Cursor's backend for prompt building. True localhost mode without external endpoints is not supported. The paid plan ($20+/month) is required to use local models.

Source
Cursor: What privacy controls does Cursor offer?

Cursor offers Privacy Mode (enabled on paid Team plans) which prevents customer data from being used for model training, with zero data retention agreements with all AI providers. When disabled, Cursor may use codebase data to improve features.

Source
Cursor: What are the differences between Pro and Pro+ plans?

Pro ($20/month) includes unlimited completions and 500 fast premium requests, while Pro+ ($60/month) provides 3x those request limits, priority feature access, and extended Agent capabilities.

Source
Cursor: Does Cursor support SSO and on which plan?

SSO with SAML/OIDC is included on Teams Standard ($40/user/month) and higher plans, with full team administration and audit logs.

Source
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