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Testing · head to head

Puppeteer vs Insomnia

Puppeteer logo

Puppeteer

Testing

Node.js library for controlling Chrome and Firefox

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: Puppeteer chrome and Firefox only, with no Safari or WebKit story; Insomnia git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: Puppeteer covers DevTools Protocol, Insomnia covers REST API Client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Puppeteer and Insomnia actually diverge.

Attributes where Puppeteer and Insomnia differ
AttributePuppeteerInsomnia
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsLinux, macOS, WindowsWindows, MacOS, Linux, Web
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Puppeteer

  • DevTools Protocol
  • Headless by default
  • PDF and screenshots
  • Network interception

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.

Puppeteer

  • Generating PDFs or screenshots of rendered pages on a servernot Insomnia
  • Scraping sites that require JavaScript executionnot Insomnia
  • Automating browser tasks where a full test framework is unnecessarynot Insomnia

Insomnia

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

Where each one falls short

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

Puppeteer

  • Chrome and Firefox only, with no Safari or WebKit story
  • Not a test framework: assertions, retries and reporting need Jest or similar bolted on
  • Bundles a Chromium download, which makes installs large and awkward in constrained CI images

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

Puppeteer

Free
  • PuppeteerFree
    • Full functionality
    • Unlimited tests
    • Community support

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 Puppeteer if

  • You need devtools protocol.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want headless by default.
Puppeteer 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 Puppeteer or Insomnia better?
Neither clearly leads. Puppeteer 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, Puppeteer or Insomnia?
Puppeteer starts at Free and Insomnia at Free.
Does Puppeteer or Insomnia run on more platforms?
Puppeteer runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. Insomnia runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web.
Can I use Puppeteer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Puppeteer best used for?
Puppeteer is most often used for generating pdfs or screenshots of rendered pages on a server, scraping sites that require javascript execution, automating browser tasks where a full test framework is unnecessary. Of those, generating pdfs or screenshots of rendered pages on a server and scraping sites that require javascript execution are not what Insomnia is typically brought in for.
What can Puppeteer do that Insomnia cannot?
Puppeteer covers DevTools Protocol, Headless by default, PDF and screenshots, Network interception. Insomnia covers REST API Client, GraphQL Support, gRPC Support, GitHub.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Puppeteer: Is Puppeteer free?

Yes, open source from the Chrome team.

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
Puppeteer: Puppeteer or Playwright?

Playwright came from the same original team, adds WebKit and Firefox support, automatic waiting and a test runner. Puppeteer stays a focused Chrome automation library, which is simpler if automation rather than testing is the goal.

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
Puppeteer: Can Puppeteer generate PDFs?

Yes, and it is one of the most common uses — rendering a page and printing it to PDF server-side.

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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