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Best API Security & Management Platforms in 2026

These platforms provide ways to create, publish, monitor, secure, and govern APIs. Use this guide to compare hosted offerings and software for web, self-hosted, API, Linux, iOS, or Windows environments.

  1. 1

    Amazon API Gateway

    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1

    Amazon API Gateway brings API creation, traffic controls, monitoring, and authorization into a managed cloud service.

    7.7 From $1 Visit site
  2. 2

    Ambassador Edge Stack

    Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

    Choose Ambassador Edge Stack if your cloud-native team needs a self-hosted Kubernetes gateway with developer-managed deployments and traffic controls.

    7.2 Pricing on request Visit site
  3. 3

    Kong Gateway

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    Choose Kong Gateway if you need an API gateway with open-source availability and deployment options spanning on-premises, cloud, Kubernetes, and serverless environments.

    7.2 Pricing on request Visit site
  4. 4

    KrakenD API Gateway

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

    KrakenD brings API composition, traffic controls, and multiple authentication options into a self-hosted gateway.

    7.1 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    Boomi

    by Boomi
    Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+2

    Boomi brings integration, automation, data, API, and B2B/EDI functions into one hybrid platform.

    6.2 From $99/mo · 30-day trial Visit site
  6. 6

    Layer7 API Management

    Paid AndroidAPIiPhone+2

    Layer7 combines API publishing, consumer access, governance, and lifecycle tooling in one management offering.

    5.4 Pricing on request Visit site
  7. 7

    Apigee API Management

    by Google Cloud
    Paid
    4.6 Visit site
  8. 8

    Azure API Management

    Paid Web

    Azure API Management offers a broad API management feature set with tiers for serverless, evaluation, production, and enterprise use.

    4.6 Pricing on request Visit site
  9. 9

    IBM API Connect

    Paid Web
    4.6 From $83/mo (annual) · 30-day trial Visit site
  10. 10

    Axway Amplify API Management

    Paid Web
    4.4 Pricing on request Visit site
  11. 11

    SAP Integration Suite, API Management

    by SAP
    Paid
    4.1 Visit site
  12. 12

    Red Hat 3scale API Management

    Paid Web
    3.8 Pricing on request Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Compare the free plan, trial terms, and paid pricing before you commit. Review deployment compatibility, billing intervals, and licence terms if you may need to inspect or modify code.

Questions

Which API platforms have a free plan?

Free plans are listed for Amazon API Gateway, Gravitee Edge Stack, Kong Gateway, and KrakenD API Gateway. Apigee API Management lists its Evaluation plan as free.

Which products list a free trial?

IBM API Connect and MuleSoft Anypoint B2B show 30-day trials. Other products on the list may provide free plans or evaluation access instead.

What is the lowest published starting price?

Amazon API Gateway shows a starting price of $1. Apigee API Management lists Pay-as-you-go at $20 a month.

Which options have pricing on request?

Pricing is available on request for Gravitee Edge Stack, Axway Amplify API Management, Azure API Management, Kong Gateway, Broadcom API Management, and Red Hat 3scale API Management.

What should I check before choosing a platform?

Check free-plan and trial limits, paid billing terms, deployment support for your environment, and the software licence if code access matters.

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