Software · head to head
3scale vs Microsoft Azure API Management
3scale
Software
API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs
- From
- $300/monthly
- Rated
- -
Microsoft Azure API Management
Software
Hybrid, multi-cloud API management service on Azure
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 3scale and Microsoft Azure API Management actually diverge.
| Attribute | 3scale | Microsoft Azure API Management |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $300/monthly | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid | Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud |
| Founded | 1993 | 1975 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 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- FreeFree
- 1M calls/month
- Community support
- Developer$50/monthly
- 10M calls/month
- Email support
- Premium$500/monthly
- Unlimited calls
- Priority support
- SLA
Which should you pick?
Choose 3scale if
- You need api monetization.
- You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
- You also want red hat openshift.
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.
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.