Side by side
Amazon API Gateway vs Kong Gateway
Both stand on rest apis. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Amazon API Gateway brings API creation, traffic controls, monitoring, and authorization into a managed cloud service. Review the Free Tier allowances and WebSocket message limit against expected usage.
Visit Amazon API Gateway
Choose Kong Gateway if you need an API gateway with open-source availability and deployment options spanning on-premises, cloud, Kubernetes, and serverless environments. The free trial provides 30 days without a credit card, while paid Konnect plans have request or gateway allowances and pricing terms to consider. Windows users need Docker for installation.
Visit Kong GatewayThe facts
| Amazon API Gateway | Kong Gateway | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Web | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 6 | 7 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | aws.amazon.com | konghq.com |
| On rest apis | #1 of 28 | #4 of 28 |
Amazon API Gateway: what it does well
- Supports REST, HTTP, and WebSocket APIs.
- Integrates with AWS Lambda, EC2, and other backends.
- CloudWatch provides API metrics, alarms, and logs.
- Offers multiple authorization methods.
- Generates client SDKs for several languages.
What to know first
- Free Tier is limited to new AWS customers.
- Usage above Free Tier allowances is charged at standard rates.
- WebSocket API messages are limited to 128 KB.
Kong Gateway: what it does well
- Open-source API gateway for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
- Configuration through API, web UI, or declarative files.
- Built-in plugins cover security, authentication, transformation, and analytics.
- Supports on-premises, cloud, Kubernetes, and serverless deployments.
- Kubernetes Ingress Controller uses Kubernetes-native resources.
What to know first
- Windows installation requires Docker; there is no native Windows installation.
- Konnect Plus and Enterprise prices are available on request.
- Konnect Plus includes 1,000,000 API requests per month; additional requests cost $200/month per 1M.
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