Local-first desktop API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC and WebSockets
Yaak is a desktop API client created by Gregory Schier, the original author of Insomnia. It handles REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket and server-sent event requests, stores them as files that work with Git, and supports plugins for auth, importers and template functions. No account is required and secrets can be encrypted. Yaak is open source under MIT and free for personal use, with a paid license for use at work.
- features
- 5
- alternatives
- 6
- platforms
- 3
- Updated
- Oct 12, 2026
Features
Our take
Pros
- Requests are stored as plain files that work well with Git
- No account needed, with optional encryption for secrets
- Fast, clean desktop app from the original author of Insomnia
Cons
- Use at work requires a paid license
- Younger project with a smaller plugin ecosystem than Postman
- Desktop only, with team sharing handled through Git rather than a cloud workspace
Editorial assessment by the Alternatives.tools team, based on what the product is known for. Not a user review.
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RapidAPI for MacFreeNative macOS HTTP client for testing and describing APIs
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