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APIs · head to head

3scale vs Microsoft Azure API Management

3scale logo

3scale

APIs

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Azure API Management logo

Microsoft Azure API Management

APIs

Hybrid, multi-cloud API management service on Azure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Azure API Management 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; Microsoft Azure API Management prices are not shown on the pricing page itself; every tier renders as a placeholder and routes to the calculator or sales
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers API Monetization, Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Policies.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and Microsoft Azure API Management actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and Microsoft Azure API Management differ
Attribute3scaleMicrosoft Azure API Management
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridCloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud
Founded19931975

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).

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 Monetization
  • Red Hat OpenShift
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes
  • On-premises support

Only in Microsoft Azure API Management

  • API Policies
  • Azure services
  • Google Cloud
  • On-premises
  • Multi-cloud support

Both cover

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • AWS
  • Cloud support
  • Hybrid support

What people use each for

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

3scale

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

Microsoft Azure API Management

  • API gateway and lifecycle management on Azurenot 3scale
  • Throttling, keys and policies in front of backend servicesnot 3scale
  • Developer portal for internal and partner APIsnot 3scale
  • Hybrid deployments using self-hosted gatewaysnot 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

Microsoft Azure API Management

  • Prices are not shown on the pricing page itself; every tier renders as a placeholder and routes to the calculator or sales
  • Two parallel generations of tiers, classic and v2, so the choice is which lineage before which size
  • The Developer tier is explicitly not for production
  • Self-hosted gateways and workspace gateways are charged separately from the service

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

Microsoft Azure API Management

Free
  • ConsumptionFree
    • 0-1 million API operations free monthly per subscription
  • Basic v2$undefined/mo
    • 10 million API requests included monthly
  • Standard v2$undefined/mo
    • 50 million API requests included monthly
  • Premium v2$undefined/mo
    • Unlimited included API requests

Which should you pick?

Choose 3scale if

  • You need api monetization.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want red hat openshift.
3scale review

Choose Microsoft Azure API Management if

  • You need api policies.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud.
  • You also want azure services.
Microsoft Azure API Management review

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

3scale: Does Red Hat 3scale require a subscription?

Yes. The page states a subscription may be required for some services, though specific subscription details and costs are not published on this page.

Source
Microsoft Azure API Management: Is Azure API Management free?

Azure API Management offers a Consumption tier with a free tier that includes 0-1 million API operations per subscription monthly at no cost, then charges per operation beyond that. Classic Consumption tier is pay-as-you-go billing.

Source
3scale: Is a trial available for 3scale?

A 'Start a trial' link is mentioned in navigation, but trial duration, included features, and limitations are not specified on this page.

Source
Microsoft Azure API Management: What are the API request limits for Azure API Management's v2 tiers?

Basic v2 includes 10 million API requests monthly, Standard v2 includes 50 million monthly, and Premium v2 includes unlimited API requests. Additional requests beyond included amounts incur standard rates.

Source
3scale: When will Red Hat 3scale end support?

Red Hat 3scale API Management maintenance and managed services will end on June 30, 2027. Customers should plan migrations accordingly.

Source
Microsoft Azure API Management: What cache capacity does each Azure API Management tier provide?

Basic v2 provides 250 MB built-in cache, Standard v2 provides 1 GB cache, and Premium v2 provides 5 GB cache capacity for response caching.

Source
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