API Gateway Comparison at a Glance
Compare the key features, pricing, and best use cases for the top API gateway solutions of 2025.
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Standout Feature | Ease of Use | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache APISIX | Cloud-native microservices & AI workloads | Free (Open Source) | Dynamic config without restarts & AI Gateway capabilities | ||
| Kong Gateway | Large enterprises with diverse API needs | Free (Open Source), $500/mo (Plus) | Extensive plugin ecosystem | ||
| Google Apigee | Enterprise API monetization & analytics | $20 per million API calls | Advanced API analytics & monetization | ||
| AWS API Gateway | AWS-centric serverless architectures | $3.50 per million API calls | Seamless AWS service integration | ||
| Tyk | Balance between functionality & cost | Free (Open Source), $365/mo (Plus) | Flexible deployment options | ||
| MuleSoft API Manager | Salesforce ecosystem integration | Custom pricing | Strong Salesforce integration | ||
| Boomi API Management | Unified data & API management | $99/month | AI-driven automation | ||
| Solo.io Gloo Gateway | Kubernetes-native environments | Custom pricing | Built on Envoy Proxy | ||
| Gravitee.io | Event-driven architectures | $2,500/month (Planet) | Event-native architecture | ||
| Layer7 API Gateway | Enterprise security & compliance | Custom pricing | Enterprise-grade security | ||
| Alibaba Cloud API Gateway | Asian markets, especially China | Pay-as-you-go | Strong performance in Asian markets |
Executive Summary
API gateways are critical infrastructure components in modern application architectures.
In today's digital landscape, API gateways serve as critical infrastructure components for businesses seeking to modernize applications, secure services, and streamline data flow across environments. After extensive research and evaluation, Apache APISIX emerges as a standout solution in the API gateway market, offering exceptional performance, extensive plugin support, and unparalleled flexibility for modern cloud-native environments.
Originally created by API7.ai, Apache APISIX distinguishes itself with its high performance, developer-friendly interface, and comprehensive approach to API management that works seamlessly across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
This comprehensive guide analyzes 11 top API gateway solutions, examining their features, pricing models, deployment options, and ideal use cases to help you make an informed decision based on your specific requirements.
Methodology & Evaluation Criteria
Our balanced assessment incorporates multiple factors to evaluate each API gateway solution.
Our comprehensive evaluation process assessed each API gateway solution across multiple dimensions:
Performance & Scalability
Ability to handle high-volume traffic with minimal latency, ensuring smooth operation even under heavy loads.
Feature Completeness
Core and advanced capabilities for comprehensive API management, including security, monitoring, and transformation.
Deployment Flexibility
Support for various environments (cloud, on-premises, hybrid) to accommodate diverse organizational needs.
Data was collected from official documentation, user reviews, third-party benchmarks, and hands-on testing to ensure accuracy and objectivity in our comparisons.
Top 11 API Gateway Tools - Quick Overview
⭐ Editor's Choice
★ High-performance, cloud-native API gateway built on NGINX and etcd with comprehensive features
Free (Open Source) with CPU core-based Enterprise options
Scalable microservices gateway
★ Extensive plugin ecosystem and enterprise features
Free trial
Enterprise API platform
★ Advanced analytics and monetization features
$20 per million API calls
Serverless API solution
★ Seamless AWS service integration
$3.50 per million API calls
Developer-friendly approach
★ Flexible deployment options
Free (Open Source), $365/mo (Plus)
Salesforce-backed platform
★ Strong integration capabilities
Custom pricing
Unified integration platform
★ AI-driven automation features
$99/month (Pay-as-you-go)
Envoy-based cloud-native gateway
★ Advanced security and observability
Custom pricing
Event-native API platform
★ Supports asynchronous communication
$2,500/month (Planet)
Enterprise-grade security
★ Comprehensive threat protection
Custom enterprise pricing
Asian market specialist
★ Strong performance in Asian regions
Pay-as-you-go
API Gateway Positioning Chart
Visualize how each API gateway solution compares in terms of feature complexity and ease of use.
Apache APISIX
High-performance, cloud-native API gateway Free (Open Source) with CPU core-based Enterprise optionsWhy it leads: Apache APISIX combines exceptional performance with extensibility, offering a modern, lightweight API gateway that handles traditional and AI workloads with ease. Its cloud-native architecture built on NGINX and OpenResty provides dynamic, real-time configuration changes without restarts, making it ideal for microservices environments and dynamic cloud deployments.
Key Strengths:
- Ultra-high performance with single-node capacity exceeding 23,000 QPS
- Robust dynamic plugin system with 100+ ready-made plugins
- Comprehensive security features including authentication, rate limiting, and WAF
- Unique AI Gateway capabilities designed for LLMs and AI workloads
- First-class observability with logging, metrics, and tracing integrations
What Makes Apache APISIX Unique
Apache APISIX stands out with its exceptional performance-to-resource ratio, handling over 23,000 QPS on a single node while maintaining low latency within 0.2 ms. The dynamic configuration system allows real-time changes without service disruption, a critical advantage in dynamic cloud environments. Its comprehensive plugin ecosystem covers everything from authentication and security to traffic management and observability, while specialized AI Gateway features make it uniquely positioned for modern AI applications.
Pros
- Exceptional performance with minimal resource usage
- Dynamic configuration without service restarts
- Comprehensive plugin system with 100+ options
- Strong cloud-native and Kubernetes integration
- Specialized AI Gateway capabilities
- Active open-source community
Cons
- Newer project compared to some alternatives
- Enterprise features require commercial subscription
- Learning curve for advanced configurations
| Best For | Organizations adopting microservices and cloud-native architectures, teams requiring high-performance API management with minimal overhead, AI and machine learning applications, projects needing flexibility across multi-cloud and hybrid deployments |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Open Source: Fully featured community edition available for free Commercial Support: Enterprise subscriptions available with additional features and support |
| User Rating | 4.8/5 based on GitHub stars (15K+) and community adoption |
Kong Gateway
Scalable API gateway for microservices Free (Open Source), $500/mo (Plus)Kong Gateway is a scalable API gateway designed for microservices and distributed systems with an extensive plugin ecosystem and enterprise features. It offers strong performance characteristics and the ability to scale horizontally, making it suitable for large enterprise deployments.
Key Strengths:
- Extensive plugin ecosystem supporting various authentication methods and integrations
- Strong performance characteristics and ability to scale horizontally
- Support for multi-protocol traffic (REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket)
- Kubernetes native with dedicated ingress controller
What Makes Kong Gateway Unique
Kong's maturity in the API gateway space and its extensive plugin ecosystem make it a reliable choice for organizations with diverse API management needs. Its ability to handle multiple protocols and integration with various authentication systems provides flexibility for complex enterprise environments.
Pros
- Mature platform with extensive enterprise adoption
- Rich ecosystem of plugins and integrations
- Strong multi-protocol support
- Good Kubernetes integration
- Active community and commercial support
Cons
- Complex configuration model compared to some alternatives
- Enterprise features locked behind higher pricing tiers
- Potential performance overhead with numerous plugins enabled
- Higher resource requirements than some alternatives
| Best For | Large enterprises with diverse API needs and dedicated DevOps teams, organizations heavily invested in Kubernetes ecosystems |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Free Tier: Kong Gateway open source version Kong Konnect Plus: Starting at $500/month (based on gateways and API calls) Kong Konnect Enterprise: Custom pricing |
| User Rating | 4.5/5 |
Google Apigee
Fully managed API platform with advanced analytics $20 per million API callsGoogle Apigee is a fully managed API platform with advanced analytics, developer portal capabilities, and monetization features from Google Cloud. It offers comprehensive API lifecycle management with strong analytics capabilities, making it ideal for organizations looking to treat APIs as products.
Key Strengths:
- Comprehensive API lifecycle management with strong analytics
- Advanced monetization capabilities for API products
- Robust security features including OAuth, SAML, and threat protection
- AI-powered features for API design and management
What Makes Apigee Unique
Apigee excels in API analytics and monetization, providing organizations with powerful tools to understand API usage patterns and generate revenue from their APIs. Its integration with Google Cloud services and AI capabilities offers additional value for organizations already invested in the Google ecosystem.
Pros
- Enterprise-grade API management platform
- Excellent analytics and monitoring capabilities
- Strong monetization features
- Comprehensive developer portal
- Integration with Google Cloud services
Cons
- Significant cost for enterprise implementations
- Steeper learning curve for simple use cases
- Primarily cloud-hosted, though hybrid options exist
- Less flexible for custom deployments
| Best For | Organizations heavily invested in Google Cloud, enterprises requiring advanced API analytics and monetization, companies with mature API strategies needing comprehensive governance |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Evaluation: Free for 60 days Pay-as-you-go: Starting at $20 per million API calls Subscription: Standard, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus tiers (custom pricing) |
| User Rating | 4.6/5 |
AWS API Gateway
Serverless API solution with AWS integration $3.50 per million API callsAWS API Gateway is Amazon's serverless API solution that integrates tightly with AWS services like Lambda and offers pay-per-use pricing. It provides a straightforward way to create, publish, and manage APIs without managing infrastructure, making it ideal for serverless architectures.
Key Strengths:
- Seamless integration with AWS services (Lambda, DynamoDB, etc.)
- Serverless architecture with automatic scaling
- Simple pay-per-use pricing model
- Support for WebSocket APIs and REST APIs
What Makes AWS API Gateway Unique
AWS API Gateway's tight integration with the broader AWS ecosystem makes it a natural choice for organizations already committed to AWS. Its serverless model eliminates infrastructure management concerns, allowing teams to focus on API design and implementation rather than operational overhead.
Pros
- Seamless integration with AWS services
- No infrastructure to manage
- Automatic scaling to handle traffic spikes
- Pay-per-use pricing model
- Built-in caching and throttling
Cons
- Limited features outside of AWS ecosystem
- Less customizable than some alternatives
- Additional costs can accumulate with high traffic volumes
- Limited protocol support compared to alternatives
| Best For | AWS-centric organizations, serverless architectures, projects requiring rapid API deployment with minimal infrastructure management |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Free Tier: 1M API calls received per month for 12 months Standard: $3.50 per million API calls received + data transfer |
| User Rating | 4.3/5 |
Tyk
Open-source API gateway with flexible deployment Free (Open Source), $365/mo (Plus)Tyk is an open-source API gateway with comprehensive management features, flexible deployment options, and a developer-friendly approach. It offers a balance between functionality and cost, making it suitable for organizations of various sizes.
Key Strengths:
- Open-source core with enterprise features
- Flexible deployment options (cloud, on-premises, hybrid)
- User-friendly dashboard and developer portal
- Strong documentation and community resources
What Makes Tyk Unique
Tyk's approach balances open-source accessibility with enterprise capabilities, offering organizations a path to start with the free version and scale up as needed. Its flexible deployment options and user-friendly interface make it accessible to teams with varying levels of API management experience.
Pros
- Open-source foundation with commercial options
- Flexible deployment across multiple environments
- User-friendly dashboard and portal
- Good documentation and community support
- Reasonable pricing structure
Cons
- Performance can vary depending on deployment configuration
- Some advanced features require higher-tier plans
- Less mature AI-specific capabilities
- Smaller ecosystem compared to some competitors
| Best For | Organizations seeking balance between functionality and cost, teams needing both cloud and on-premises deployment options, projects requiring open-source foundations with commercial support |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Free: Self-hosted open-source version Plus: Starting at $365/month per region Enterprise: Custom pricing |
| User Rating | 4.4/5 |
MuleSoft API Manager
Enterprise-focused API platform with Salesforce backing Custom pricingMuleSoft API Manager is an enterprise-focused API platform with strong integration capabilities and the backing of Salesforce. It offers comprehensive API lifecycle management as part of a broader integration platform, making it particularly valuable for organizations with complex integration needs.
Key Strengths:
- Strong integration with Salesforce ecosystem
- Comprehensive API lifecycle management
- Robust security policies and governance features
- Supports both traditional and event-driven APIs
What Makes MuleSoft Unique
MuleSoft's integration-centric approach sets it apart, offering API management as part of a broader integration platform. This makes it particularly valuable for organizations with complex integration needs that extend beyond simple API management. Its Salesforce backing provides additional value for organizations within that ecosystem.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration platform
- Strong Salesforce ecosystem integration
- Robust governance and security features
- Enterprise-grade support and services
- Unified approach to integration challenges
Cons
- Higher price point than many competitors
- Complex architecture may be overkill for simple needs
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Less focus on performance optimization
| Best For | Salesforce customers requiring tight integration, enterprise organizations with complex integration needs, businesses requiring advanced governance features |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Custom pricing based on organization size and needs |
| User Rating | 4.2/5 |
Boomi API Management
Unified integration and API management platform $99/month (Pay-as-you-go)Boomi API Management is a scalable API platform offering unified integration and management across multiple environments. It's part of a broader integration platform, providing organizations with a comprehensive solution for their integration and API management needs.
Key Strengths:
- Part of a broader integration platform
- Strong data management capabilities
- Unified governance across multiple environments
- AI-driven automation features
What Makes Boomi Unique
Boomi's approach integrates API management with broader integration capabilities, offering a unified platform for various integration challenges. Its low-code/no-code development options make it accessible to teams with varying technical expertise, while its AI-driven features help automate common tasks.
Pros
- Unified integration platform
- Low-code/no-code development options
- AI-driven automation features
- Strong data management capabilities
- Multi-environment governance
Cons
- Less specialized for pure API gateway needs
- Higher cost compared to dedicated API gateways
- More complex setup for simple use cases
- Performance considerations for high-volume APIs
| Best For | Organizations already using Boomi for integration, enterprises requiring unified data and API management, teams seeking no-code/low-code development options |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Base: $99/month (Pay-as-you-go) Higher Tiers: Custom pricing based on requirements |
| User Rating | 4.0/5 |
Solo.io Gloo Gateway
Cloud-native gateway built on Envoy Proxy Custom pricingSolo.io Gloo Gateway is a cloud-native API gateway built on Envoy Proxy, offering modern security and observability features. It's designed specifically for Kubernetes environments, providing advanced capabilities for cloud-native applications.
Key Strengths:
- Built on Envoy Proxy for high performance
- Strong Kubernetes integration
- Advanced security features and zero-trust architecture
- Support for multi-cluster deployments
What Makes Solo.io Gloo Gateway Unique
Gloo Gateway's foundation on Envoy Proxy provides it with high performance and modern networking capabilities. Its Kubernetes-native approach makes it particularly well-suited for organizations adopting cloud-native architectures, while its advanced security features address modern security challenges.
Pros
- High-performance Envoy-based architecture
- Excellent Kubernetes integration
- Advanced security capabilities
- Multi-cluster support
- Modern observability features
Cons
- More specialized for Kubernetes environments
- Less comprehensive developer portal features
- Steeper learning curve for traditional deployments
- Limited community size compared to alternatives
| Best For | Kubernetes-native organizations, teams requiring advanced security in cloud-native environments, projects with multi-cluster or multi-cloud requirements |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Custom pricing based on deployment size and requirements |
| User Rating | 4.1/5 |
Gravitee.io
Event-native API platform $2,500/month (Planet)Gravitee.io is an event-native API platform supporting synchronous and asynchronous communication patterns with flexible deployment options. It's particularly well-suited for organizations adopting event-driven architectures alongside traditional REST APIs.
Key Strengths:
- Event-native architecture supporting asynchronous APIs
- Kafka gateway capabilities
- Flexible API monetization features
- Simplified management interface
What Makes Gravitee.io Unique
Gravitee's event-native approach sets it apart, providing unified management for both synchronous and asynchronous APIs. This makes it particularly valuable for organizations adopting event-driven architectures or working with streaming data, while still supporting traditional REST APIs.
Pros
- Support for both synchronous and asynchronous APIs
- Kafka gateway capabilities
- Flexible monetization options
- User-friendly interface
- Open-source foundation
Cons
- Smaller community compared to major alternatives
- Less mature enterprise support options
- More limited third-party integrations
- Less extensive documentation
| Best For | Organizations with event-driven architecture needs, teams requiring both synchronous and asynchronous API support, projects with Kafka streaming requirements |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Planet: $2,500/month for smaller enterprise use cases Galaxy: Custom pricing for higher volume requirements Universe: Custom pricing for unlimited functionality |
| User Rating | 4.2/5 |
Layer7 API Gateway (Broadcom)
Enterprise-grade API management solution Custom enterprise pricingLayer7 API Gateway is an enterprise-grade API management solution with advanced security features and governance capabilities. It's designed for large enterprises with strict security and compliance requirements, offering comprehensive protection for API assets.
Key Strengths:
- Enterprise-grade security features
- Extensive governance capabilities
- Strong support for traditional enterprise environments
- Comprehensive threat protection
What Makes Layer7 API Gateway Unique
Layer7's focus on enterprise security and governance makes it particularly valuable for organizations in regulated industries or with strict compliance requirements. Its mature feature set addresses complex enterprise needs, while its integration with other Broadcom products provides additional value for existing customers.
Pros
- Enterprise-grade security features
- Comprehensive governance capabilities
- Strong compliance support
- Mature feature set
- Integration with other Broadcom products
Cons
- Less cloud-native approach than newer competitors
- Higher resource requirements
- More complex implementation process
- Less focus on developer experience
| Best For | Large enterprises with existing Broadcom investments, organizations with strict security and compliance requirements, teams needing advanced governance features |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Enterprise licensing with custom pricing |
| User Rating | 3.9/5 |
Alibaba Cloud API Gateway
API gateway optimized for Asian markets Pay-as-you-goAlibaba Cloud API Gateway offers tight integration with Alibaba Cloud services, strong performance in Asian markets, and AI-oriented capabilities. It's particularly well-suited for organizations operating in Asian markets or using other Alibaba Cloud services.
Key Strengths:
- Tight integration with Alibaba Cloud services
- Strong performance in Asian markets
- AI-oriented capabilities and features
- Flexible pricing options
What Makes Alibaba Cloud API Gateway Unique
Alibaba Cloud API Gateway's regional focus provides significant advantages for organizations operating in Asian markets, particularly China. Its integration with other Alibaba Cloud services creates a cohesive ecosystem for organizations already using those services, while its AI capabilities address emerging needs.
Pros
- Excellent performance in Asian regions
- Tight integration with Alibaba Cloud
- AI-oriented features
- Flexible pricing model
- Strong regional support
Cons
- More limited global presence compared to AWS/Azure
- Less extensive third-party integration ecosystem
- Documentation primarily focused on Alibaba Cloud usage
- Less community support outside Asia
| Best For | Organizations operating in Asian markets, especially China, Alibaba Cloud customers seeking integrated API management, teams requiring specialized AI gateway features |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Pay-as-you-go options based on API calls and data transfer Resource plan options for predictable costs |
| User Rating | 4.0/5 |
Use Case Recommendations
Find the ideal API gateway solution for your specific requirements.
For Cloud-Native Organizations
Top Pick: Apache APISIX
Organizations running Kubernetes or other cloud-native infrastructure will benefit most from Apache APISIX's lightweight architecture, dynamic configuration capabilities, and exceptional performance. Its plugin system allows for easy extension and customization without service interruption, making it ideal for microservices architectures. The low resource footprint and high throughput make APISIX particularly valuable in containerized environments where efficiency is critical.
Runner-up: Kong Gateway, with its strong community presence and extensive ecosystem.
For Enterprise API Programs
Top Pick: Google Apigee
For organizations with mature API programs requiring comprehensive governance, monetization, and analytics capabilities, Google Apigee offers a robust solution. Its developer portal, extensive security features, and monetization tools support sophisticated API product strategies.
Runner-up: MuleSoft API Manager, especially for organizations within the Salesforce ecosystem or with complex integration needs.
For AWS-Based Organizations
Top Pick: AWS API Gateway
Businesses that have standardized on AWS and leverage services like Lambda, DynamoDB, and CloudWatch will find AWS API Gateway provides the most seamless integration experience with minimal configuration overhead.
Runner-up: Apache APISIX offers greater flexibility and feature richness for AWS users who need more customization or plan to adopt multi-cloud strategies.
For AI and LLM Applications
Top Pick: Apache APISIX
With its specialized AI Gateway features, APISIX is particularly well-suited for organizations building applications on top of large language models and AI services. Its MCP support, credential management, semantic caching, and AI-specific policies provide a solid foundation for AI application infrastructure.
Runner-up: Kong's AI Gateway capabilities provide another strong option, especially for organizations already using Kong.
Buying Guide & Decision Framework
Follow this framework to select the right API gateway for your needs.
Step 1: Assess Your Technical Requirements
- Traffic Volume: How many API calls per second will you need to handle?
- Latency Requirements: How time-sensitive are your applications?
- Protocol Support: Do you need support for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, etc.?
- Deployment Environment: Cloud, on-premises, hybrid, or multi-cloud?
Step 2: Evaluate Business Needs
- Budget Constraints: What's your allocation for API infrastructure?
- Team Expertise: What technologies is your team familiar with?
- Growth Trajectory: How quickly will your API program grow?
- Monetization Plans: Will you charge for API access or track usage for internal chargeback?
Step 3: Consider Integration Requirements
- Existing Infrastructure: What systems must the API gateway connect with?
- Authentication Systems: What identity providers do you use?
- Monitoring Tools: What observability stack do you have?
- CI/CD Pipeline: How will the gateway fit into your deployment process?
Step 4: Prioritize Key Features
- Performance and scalability
- Security features
- Developer experience
- Analytics and monitoring
- Plugin ecosystem
- Community support
- Cost-effectiveness
Step 5: Evaluate Total Cost of Ownership
- Implementation costs
- Ongoing maintenance
- Training requirements
- Scaling costs as traffic grows
- Support and professional services
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about API gateways and their implementation.
Final Verdict & Next Steps
Our recommendations after thorough analysis of the top API gateway solutions.
After comprehensive evaluation of the 13 leading API gateway solutions, Apache APISIX stands out as the optimal choice for organizations seeking a high-performance, flexible, and future-proof API management solution. Its unmatched performance metrics, extensive plugin ecosystem, and true cloud-native design make it exceptionally well-suited for modern architectures while providing the enterprise-grade capabilities needed for critical workloads.
While each solution has its strengths for specific use cases, Apache APISIX offers the broadest applicability across diverse scenarios—from traditional enterprises to cloud-native startups, from simple REST APIs to complex event-driven architectures. Its open-source foundation provides cost advantages while its commercial options ensure enterprise-grade support when needed.
Recommended Action Plan:
- Start with a Proof of Concept: Download the open-source version and test it in your environment with real-world workloads.
- Evaluate Enterprise Needs: Consider API7.ai's commercial offerings if you require enterprise support and advanced features.
- Join the Community: Engage with the Apache APISIX community to learn best practices and get support during your implementation.
- Implement Gradually: Begin with non-critical APIs and gradually expand as you gain confidence and expertise with the platform.
- Contact API7.ai: Reach out to the team behind Apache APISIX for personalized guidance on implementing the solution for your specific needs.
By choosing Apache APISIX, organizations position themselves to build robust, scalable, and secure API infrastructures that can evolve with changing requirements while maintaining exceptional performance and developer productivity.