Software · head to head
GitHub Actions vs Insomnia
Insomnia
Software
REST and GraphQL API client for development and testing
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GitHub Actions private repository usage is capped at 2,000 minutes per month on GitHub Free and 3,000 on Pro and Team, with anything beyond billed; Insomnia git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GitHub Actions and Insomnia actually diverge.
| Attribute | GitHub Actions | Insomnia |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web |
| Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 GitHub Actions
Nothing recorded that Insomnia does not also cover.
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.
GitHub Actions
- Running CI builds and tests on pushes and pull requestsnot Insomnia
- Automating releases, container image builds and deployments from a repositorynot Insomnia
- Scheduled maintenance jobs and repository automationnot Insomnia
Insomnia
- Sending and debugging HTTP, GraphQL and gRPC requestsnot GitHub Actions
- Storing collections in Git rather than a vendor cloudnot GitHub Actions
- Mocking an API endpoint before it existsnot GitHub Actions
- Running collections in CI with the Inso CLInot GitHub Actions
- Environment management across staging and productionnot GitHub Actions
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GitHub Actions
- Private repository usage is capped at 2,000 minutes per month on GitHub Free and 3,000 on Pro and Team, with anything beyond billed
- Artifact storage is only 500 MB on GitHub Free and 2 GB on Team, and it is shared with GitHub Packages storage
- Larger runners are always charged for, even on public repositories and even when plan quota remains
- Windows runners cost $0.010 per minute against $0.006 for a 2-core Linux runner, so the same workflow costs more per platform
- macOS runners are charged at a higher per-minute rate than Linux runners
- Failed runs consume minutes, so a job that fails after 5 minutes and is re-run for 10 uses 15 minutes of quota
- Storage is billed on hourly accrual in GB-Hours, so deleting artifacts stops future charges but does not remove charges already accrued in the cycle
- Cache storage is a separate 10 GB per repository allowance and peak hourly usage above it is charged
- Minutes are charged to the repository owner, not the person who triggered the run, and anyone with write access can trigger runs
- Without a valid payment method on file, workflows are blocked as soon as the quota is exhausted
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
GitHub Actions
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the GitHub Actions review.
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 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.
Questions people ask
- Is GitHub Actions or Insomnia better?
- Neither clearly leads. GitHub Actions 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, GitHub Actions or Insomnia?
- GitHub Actions starts at Free and Insomnia at Free.
- Does GitHub Actions or Insomnia run on more platforms?
- GitHub Actions runs on Web. Insomnia runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web.
- Can I use GitHub Actions for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is GitHub Actions best used for?
- GitHub Actions is most often used for running ci builds and tests on pushes and pull requests, automating releases, container image builds and deployments from a repository, scheduled maintenance jobs and repository automation. Of those, running ci builds and tests on pushes and pull requests and automating releases, container image builds and deployments from a repository are not what Insomnia is typically brought in for.
- What can GitHub Actions do that Insomnia cannot?
- Insomnia covers REST API Client, GraphQL Support, gRPC Support, GitHub.