Softwr

Testing · head to head

Insomnia vs mabl

Insomnia logo

Insomnia

Testing

REST and GraphQL API client for development and testing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
mabl logo

mabl

Testing

Low-code browser and API test automation with hosted runners and self-healing selectors

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Insomnia has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Insomnia git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only; mabl tests are stored in a proprietary format and cannot be exported as runnable code, so migrating to Playwright or Cypress later means re authoring every test by hand.
  • They diverge on capability: Insomnia covers REST API Client, mabl covers Trainer recorder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Insomnia and mabl actually diverge.

Attributes where Insomnia and mabl differ
AttributeInsomniamabl
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, Linux, WebWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux
Founded2010Unknown

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

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 Insomnia

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

Only in mabl

  • Trainer recorder
  • Auto healing selectors
  • API testing
  • Accessibility checks
  • Cross browser cloud runs
  • CI and issue tracker hooks

What people use each for

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

Insomnia

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

mabl

  • A QA team of two or three people responsible for regression coverage across a web application released weeklynot Insomnia
  • An organisation that abandoned a Selenium suite because maintenance consumed more time than manual testing didnot Insomnia
  • Teams that need accessibility scanning and functional regression reported in the same runnot Insomnia
  • Product companies where non engineers, such as support or business analysts, are expected to author testsnot Insomnia

Where each one falls short

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

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

mabl

  • Tests are stored in a proprietary format and cannot be exported as runnable code, so migrating to Playwright or Cypress later means re authoring every test by hand.
  • Auto healing can mask a genuine defect: if an element is removed and a similar one takes its place, the test adapts and passes when a user facing regression has actually shipped.
  • Pricing is not published and is driven by concurrent run capacity, so the cost of shortening a two hour suite to twenty minutes is a renegotiation rather than a configuration change.
  • Debugging a failure happens inside a hosted runner you do not control, which makes flakiness caused by test data or environment timing harder to reproduce locally than with a suite you run yourself.
  • Native mobile application coverage is thin compared with the browser product, so teams with an iOS or Android app still need a second tool such as Appium or Maestro.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

mabl

On request
  • mabl$undefined/year
    • Annual subscription quoted per organisation, with the number of concurrent cloud runs as the main cost driver
    • Trial available without a sales call, full pricing is not published

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.
Insomnia review

Choose mabl if

  • You need trainer recorder.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want auto healing selectors.
mabl review

Questions people ask

Is Insomnia or mabl better?
Neither clearly leads. Insomnia starts at Free and mabl at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Insomnia or mabl?
Insomnia has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Insomnia and On request for mabl.
Does Insomnia or mabl run on more platforms?
Insomnia runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web. mabl runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Insomnia for free?
Yes. Insomnia has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. mabl starts at On request.
What is Insomnia best used for?
Insomnia is most often used for sending and debugging http, graphql and grpc requests, storing collections in git rather than a vendor cloud, mocking an api endpoint before it exists, running collections in ci with the inso cli. Of those, sending and debugging http, graphql and grpc requests and storing collections in git rather than a vendor cloud are not what mabl is typically brought in for.
What can Insomnia do that mabl cannot?
Insomnia covers REST API Client, GraphQL Support, gRPC Support, GitHub. mabl covers Trainer recorder, Auto healing selectors, API testing, Accessibility checks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
mabl: Can I export mabl tests to Playwright if we leave?

No. You can export documentation of the steps, but not runnable code. Budget for re authoring the suite.

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
mabl: Does auto healing actually work?

It works often enough to be the reason people buy it, but it cannot be verified from a demo. Trial it against your own application through at least two real releases.

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
mabl: Is mabl a replacement for unit tests?

No. It covers end to end journeys through a running application. Unit and integration coverage still belongs in your repository.

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