Softwr

Software · head to head

3scale vs Automate.io

3scale logo

3scale

Software

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Automate.io logo

Automate.io

Software

Connect and automate your cloud applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Automate.io has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 3scale red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date; Automate.io no longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers API Gateway, Automate.io covers Multi-step automations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and Automate.io actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and Automate.io differ
Attribute3scaleAutomate.io
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridWeb, Mobile
Founded19932014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3scale

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • API Monetization
  • Red Hat OpenShift
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud support

Only in Automate.io

  • Multi-step automations
  • Conditional logic
  • Data mapping
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Webhooks
  • API integrations
  • 500+ apps

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3scale

  • API gateway and lifecycle managementnot Automate.io
  • Rate limiting and traffic control across API consumersnot Automate.io
  • Developer portal and access key managementnot Automate.io
  • Monetising APIs with usage-based plansnot Automate.io
  • Hybrid deployment across on-premises and cloudnot Automate.io

Automate.io

  • Workflow Automationnot 3scale
  • Data Integrationnot 3scale
  • Process Automationnot 3scale
  • App Integrationnot 3scale
  • API Connectivitynot 3scale

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3scale

  • Red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date
  • Sold as part of Red Hat middleware rather than standalone, and 3scale.net redirects into redhat.com
  • Pricing is not published and a subscription is required for some services

Automate.io

  • No longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down
  • Existing automations were not portable to Notion, so users had to rebuild elsewhere

Pricing, plan by plan

3scale

$300/monthly
  • Starter$300/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Developer portal
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$750/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • API monetization
    • Enhanced support
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Dedicated support
    • Premium SLA

Automate.io

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 250 tasks/month
    • 2 automations
  • Starter$15/month
    • 5000 tasks/month
    • Unlimited automations
    • Email support
  • Professional$50/month
    • Unlimited tasks
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose 3scale if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want developer portal.
3scale review

Choose Automate.io if

  • You need multi-step automations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want conditional logic.
Automate.io review

Questions people ask

Is 3scale or Automate.io better?
Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and Automate.io at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3scale or Automate.io?
Automate.io has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/monthly for 3scale and Free for Automate.io.
Does 3scale or Automate.io run on more platforms?
3scale runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. Automate.io runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Automate.io for free?
Yes. Automate.io has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3scale starts at $300/monthly.
What is 3scale best used for?
3scale is most often used for api gateway and lifecycle management, rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers, developer portal and access key management, monetising apis with usage-based plans. Of those, api gateway and lifecycle management and rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers are not what Automate.io is typically brought in for.
What can 3scale do that Automate.io cannot?
3scale covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift. Automate.io covers Multi-step automations, Conditional logic, Data mapping, Error handling.
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