Insomnia vs Cruss

Open-source API testing with free team sync.

Insomnia is a solid tool but has faced controversy around forced sign-in requirements and pricing changes. Cruss is free for teams with no per-seat charges, and the VS Code extension is open source under the MIT License.

Feature comparison

FeatureCrussInsomnia
Price for teamsFree foreverFree (limited) / $8/user/month (Teams)
Open sourceVS Code extension (MIT)Apache 2.0 (partially)
VS Code extension Yes No
VS Code extension Yes No
Local agent Yes No
Web app Yes No
Collection RunnerFreePaid teams plan
Request chainingFree Yes
Environment variables Yes Yes
GraphQL support Yes Yes
API documentationFree, AI-generated No
cURL import Yes Yes
Postman import Yes Yes
No forced sign-in YesSign-in required
Assertions & tests Yes Yes

Frequently asked questions

Is Cruss a good Insomnia alternative?
Yes. Cruss covers the same core use case — building, sending, and organising HTTP requests — while adding free team sync, a VS Code extension, and AI documentation generation that Insomnia does not offer for free.
Can I use Cruss without an account?
Yes. The web app works in guest mode with collections stored in localStorage. The VS Code extension works in local mode with no account required.
Is Cruss open source?
The Cruss VS Code extension is open source under the MIT License. The platform — web app and API — is proprietary software provided free of charge.

Try Cruss for free

No credit card. No member limits. Every feature available immediately.