Choosing between Yaak and Insomnia? Both are desktop API clients for sending HTTP, GraphQL, and other API requests, but they make different product tradeoffs. Yaak is designed for developers who want a focused, local-first app with open-source code, Git-friendly files, encrypted secrets, and no required account.
| Feature | Insomnia | Yaak |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | API client plus broader platform features | Focused desktop API client |
| Local storage | Supported with Local Vault | Default local workspace storage |
| Git workflow | Supported through Git Sync | Built-in Git workflow with plain files |
| Account required | Not for local usage | No |
| Open source | Open-source desktop app | Fully open source |
| Secrets | Secure storage options | OS keychain encryption and obscured values |
If you want the shortest version: Yaak is an Insomnia alternative for developers who miss the fast, focused, local-first feel of classic API clients.
Moving from Insomnia? See the Migrate from Insomnia guide for step-by-step import instructions.
In 2014, I created Insomnia because existing API tools were bloated and hard to use. It grew organically to thousands of users as a side project before becoming my full-time job. After five years and $20k/month in revenue, I was burnt out. I accepted an acquisition offer in 2019 as a way to move on to the next chapter of my career.
Over time, Insomnia drifted from my original vision. The fun and powerful app I’d built turned into a do-it-all tool, prioritizing growth and enterprise above its users. Changes like forcing users to have a cloud account were not taken well by the community.
Yaak is the best Insomnia alternative if you want a local-first, Git-friendly API client that's a joy to use.
After stepping away from Kong and spending time at Railway, I was in need of another API client. Every other app left something to be desired. I wanted an open-source, fast, and easy to use app that was still powerful enough to do everything. Yaak is the result of rethinking the API client using everything I’d learned from building Insomnia.
Yaak is a clean and modern desktop app
One of the biggest lessons from Insomnia’s history is how much developers care about data ownership. Yaak stores everything locally on the filesystem. No cloud sync, no mandatory account, no telemetry. Workspaces, environments, and secrets stay on your machine unless you explicitly choose to share them, either through data export or Yaak’s built-in Git sync.
Using the secure(...) function within a header value
Yaak can store workspaces as plain files on disk, making it straightforward to sync workspaces with DropBox, or version control with Git using the built-in Git integration.
Confirmation for when changed files will modify or delete data
Beyond Git, Yaak’s plugin system supports custom authentication flows, template functions, themes, and data importers, including an Insomnia importer to make the switch easy.
Having been on both sides—indie developer and acquisition—the difference in incentives is real. Yaak is fully open source and independently funded, which means product decisions are driven by the things developers actually need.
Insomnia served me well for years, but its enterprise direction has left some developers looking for something smaller and more focused. For a local-first API client that puts developer workflow first, Yaak is a strong fit.
