Side by side
Apiman vs KrakenD API 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.
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
Apiman offers API governance and independently scaling gateways, with an open-source license and no paid feature gates. Check the protocol limits and use a community-supported version if relying on project community support.
Visit Apiman Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
KrakenD brings API composition, traffic controls, and multiple authentication options into a self-hosted gateway. Community Edition is free, while Enterprise is the option for commercial support and SLAs.
Visit KrakenD API GatewayThe facts
| Apiman | KrakenD API Gateway | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | apiman.io | krakend.io |
| On rest apis | #2 of 28 | #6 of 28 |
Apiman: what it does well
- Open-source Apache License 2.0 software.
- No features are hidden behind paywalls.
- Gateways can continue if the Manager goes down.
- Custom Java plugins can load without restarting.
- Includes a standalone Developer Portal.
What to know first
- Raw TCP, raw UDP and messaging protocols are unsupported.
- WebSockets lack explicit testing or support.
- Versions 2.x and 1.x are unsupported.
- Up-front billing and payment capture are not provided.
KrakenD API Gateway: what it does well
- Free Community Edition
- Unlimited requests, APIs, and AI workloads
- Supports API composition across multiple services
- Offers Docker and Kubernetes deployment
What to know first
- AI Gateway and AI security are Enterprise features
- Community does not include direct vendor support and SLAs
- KrakenD is self-hosted
Alternatives to Apiman Alternatives to KrakenD API Gateway The whole list

