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Software · head to head

3scale vs AWS API Gateway

3scale logo

3scale

Software

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

Software

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AWS API Gateway 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; AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers API Gateway, AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and AWS API Gateway actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and AWS API Gateway differ
Attribute3scaleAWS API Gateway
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridAWS Cloud
Founded19932006

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 AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs
  • WebSocket APIs
  • HTTP APIs
  • Lambda
  • EC2
  • DynamoDB
  • CloudWatch
  • IAM

What people use each for

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

3scale

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

AWS API Gateway

  • Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot 3scale
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot 3scale
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot 3scale
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot 3scale
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot 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

AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
  • WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
  • Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
  • The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
  • The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing

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

AWS API Gateway

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M requests per month
    • Basic API management
  • Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
    • Unlimited requests
    • HTTP APIs
    • REST APIs

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 AWS API Gateway if

  • You need rest apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS Cloud.
  • You also want websocket apis.
AWS API Gateway review

Questions people ask

Is 3scale or AWS API Gateway better?
Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and AWS API Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3scale or AWS API Gateway?
AWS API Gateway has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/monthly for 3scale and Free for AWS API Gateway.
Does 3scale or AWS API Gateway run on more platforms?
3scale runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud.
Can I use AWS API Gateway for free?
Yes. AWS API Gateway 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 AWS API Gateway is typically brought in for.
What can 3scale do that AWS API Gateway cannot?
3scale covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift. AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda.
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