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Best Rest Apis in 2026

REST API tools help you publish and manage APIs through gateways, specifications, developer portals, analytics, and access roles. This list includes hosted services, software for self-hosting, and tools that run on web, Linux, Windows, macOS, or as APIs.

  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

    Apiman

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    Apiman offers API governance and independently scaling gateways, with an open-source license and no paid feature gates.

    7.6 Open source Visit site
  3. 3

    Fusio

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    Fusio combines a self-hosted gateway with schema tools, a developer portal, and API monetization features.

    7.4 Open source Visit site
  4. 4

    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.

    7.3 Pricing on request Visit site
  5. 5

    Apache APISIX

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted

    APISIX combines API and AI gateway functions with broad protocol and plugin support. Its self-managed model and separate commercial support are important considerations for teams evaluating it.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  6. 6

    KrakenD API Gateway

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

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

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  7. 7

    Mintlify

    Free plan APILinuxMac+3

    Mintlify brings documentation publishing, API references, and AI-client search into one platform. Starter offers a free entry point, while Pro is listed at $450 a month.

    7.2 Free plan · paid from $450/mo Visit site
  8. 8

    Google Cloud API Gateway

    Free plan APIWeb

    Choose Google Cloud API Gateway when you need a managed API layer for supported backends, with authentication, traffic controls, and request monitoring.

    7.1 Free plan · paid from $3 Visit site
  9. 9

    Postman

    by Postman
    Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+2

    Postman combines API creation, testing, documentation, and monitoring in one platform, with a free plan and paid options. Check plan availability and the annual billing terms before choosing a tier.

    7.1 Free plan · paid from $9/mo (annual) Visit site
  10. 10

    Redocly

    by Redocly
    Free plan APIExtensionWeb

    Redocly brings API references, collaboration, governance, and monitoring into one product set, with an open-source CLI and VS Code extension.

    6.9 From $10/user/mo · 30-day trial Visit site
  11. 11

    Tyk API Management

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    Tyk suits teams seeking API gateway controls alongside lifecycle management, analytics, and deployment choice.

    6.9 Pricing on request · 2-day trial Visit site
  12. 12

    ReadMe

    by ReadMe
    Free plan Web
    6.7 Free plan · paid from $250/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
  13. 13

    Stoplight Elements

    Free plan Self-hostedWeb

    Stoplight Elements covers core interactive API documentation needs with OpenAPI support, code examples, and an embedded console.

    6.7 Free plan Visit site
  14. 14

    SwaggerHub

    by SwaggerHub
    Free plan Self-hostedWeb

    SwaggerHub brings API design, documentation, testing, and governance into a set of team tools.

    6.7 Pricing on request Visit site
  15. 15

    Gravitee API Management

    Free plan LinuxWebWindows
    6.6 Free plan · paid from $2,500/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
  16. 16

    API7 Enterprise

    Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    API7 Enterprise combines lifecycle management, gateway policies, developer documentation, analytics, and multi-cluster organization.

    6.5 Pricing on request Visit site
  17. 17

    Bump.sh

    Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb

    Bump.sh combines API documentation workflows with MCP server generation and release checks. Review its hosting model, certification status, and plan limits before choosing a tier.

    6.2 From $50/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
  18. 18

    Sensedia API Management

    Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb

    Choose Sensedia API Management if your team needs centralized governance and operational visibility across multiple gateways, along with a developer portal and API lifecycle tools.

    5.8 Pricing on request Visit site
  19. 19

    Alibaba Cloud API Gateway

    Paid Web

    Alibaba Cloud API Gateway combines broad protocol support with authentication, rate limiting, and request transformation.

    5.1 Visit site
  20. 20

    Kong Konnect

    Free trial APILinuxMac+3

    Kong Konnect brings gateway management together with API lifecycle, catalog and analytics capabilities.

    5.1 From $25/mo · 30-day trial Visit site
  21. 21

    Google Apigee

    Paid Web

    Apigee offers several API management capabilities alongside pricing tiers based on proxy type, calls, and environments. Review the relevant usage and regional costs before choosing a plan.

    4.8 From $13 · 60-day trial Visit site
  22. 22

    Azure API Management

    Paid Web

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

    4.7 Pricing on request Visit site
  23. 23

    IBM API Connect

    Paid Web
    4.7 From $83/mo (annual) · 30-day trial Visit site
  24. 24

    Axway Amplify API Management

    Paid Web
    4.5 Pricing on request Visit site
  25. 25

    F5 NGINX App Protect DoS

    Paid Linux
    4.5 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 free plans, trial periods, paid starting prices, and open-source licences before choosing. Also assess deployment choices, API specification coverage, developer-portal functions, analytics retention, and role-based permissions for your project.

Questions

Do REST API tools offer free plans?

Yes. Amazon API Gateway, Apache APISIX, Apiman, Fusio, and Google Cloud API Gateway are among the entries with a free plan.

Are free trials available?

Yes. Bump.sh advertises a 14-day trial, while Google Apigee advertises a 60-day trial.

Which REST API tools are open source?

Apache APISIX, Apiman, and Fusio show open-source or free pricing. Check the licence before modifying or redistributing code.

What platforms do these tools support?

The list covers web, Linux, API, self-hosted, Windows, and macOS platforms.

What should I compare before choosing?

Review each entry’s free-plan status, starting paid price, gateway, deployment model, API-spec support, developer portal, analytics retention, and role-based access.

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