Insomnia vs k6:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, k6 had more branded searches than Insomnia among API testing tools worldwide. k6 had about 87,500 branded searches, while Insomnia had 9,210. k6 made up 37.5% of all API testing tool searches we track, and Insomnia accounted for 3.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about API testing tools, k6 appeared in three of the five answers and Insomnia in two. k6 was mentioned before Insomnia in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
k6, about 10 searches for every 1 for Insomnia
Who does AI mention more?
k6, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Insomnia in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
k6, named ahead of Insomnia in 3 of 5 answers
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Top API testing tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, k6 was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Insomnia was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. k6 was listed before Insomnia in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Postman1st
Bruno2nd
Karate3rd
SoapUI4th
Insomnia5th
Playwright6th
Katalon7th- k68th
Hoppscotch9th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Postman5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- SoapUI4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Bruno4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Karate4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- k63 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Playwright2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Katalon2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Insomnia2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Hoppscotch1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about API testing tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which API testing tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best API testing tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best API testing tool for qa teams?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“api testing tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“api test software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Insomnia or k6 more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Insomnia and k6 by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine API testing tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for k6, Insomnia. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | k6 | Playwright | SoapUI | Postman | Bruno | Katalon | Insomnia | Karate | Hoppscotch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.3% | 15.4% | 18.3% | 13.2% | 9.3% | 6.7% | 8.9% | 1.3% | 0.77% |
| Nov 2025 | 29.9% | 17.9% | 17% | 13.2% | 7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 1.4% | 0.71% |
| Dec 2025 | 28.5% | 19.2% | 16.2% | 13.3% | 8.1% | 5.9% | 6.7% | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 30% | 20.6% | 13.9% | 11.9% | 8.6% | 6.2% | 6.7% | 1.2% | 0.87% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.9% | 19.4% | 13.9% | 13.2% | 10.5% | 5.1% | 5.7% | 1.4% | 0.89% |
| Mar 2026 | 27.4% | 18.5% | 15.3% | 11.9% | 11.6% | 5.6% | 7.4% | 1.3% | 1% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.3% | 20.1% | 13.6% | 13% | 10.3% | 6.1% | 5.5% | 1.1% | 0.89% |
| May 2026 | 31.1% | 19.2% | 14.4% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 5.3% | 5.6% | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 31.3% | 21.7% | 14.3% | 11.6% | 9.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% | 1.2% | 0.91% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.6% | 19.9% | 12.2% | 12% | 11.6% | 4.4% | 5.1% | 1.2% | 0.93% |
| Aug 2026 | 33.1% | 22.1% | 12.4% | 11.8% | 9.6% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 37.5% | 21% | 11.6% | 9.8% | 9% | 5.2% | 3.9% | 0.99% | 0.91% |
How has the Insomnia and k6 comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- k6 was ahead of Insomnia in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Insomnia’s share of searches among API testing tools worldwide moved from 8.9% to 3.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 24.1K to 9.2K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, k6’s share of searches among API testing tools worldwide moved from 26.3% to 37.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 71.5K to 87.5K.
How did search popularity change for API testing tools worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, k6 gained share of searches among API testing tools worldwide, from 33.1% to 37.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Insomnia worldwide fell 61.8% over 12 measured months, from 24.1K to 9.2K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
7 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Insomnia’s and k6’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among API testing tools
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