API Management · head to head
3scale vs Hasura
3scale
API Management
API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs
- From
- $300/monthly
- Rated
- -
Hasura
API Management
GraphQL engine that instantly creates production-ready GraphQL API from databases
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Hasura 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; Hasura database support limited to PostgreSQL, MongoDB, ClickHouse, and MS SQL Server only
- They diverge on capability: 3scale covers API Gateway, Hasura covers GraphQL API.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 3scale and Hasura actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).
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
- On-premises support
Only in Hasura
- GraphQL API
- Real-time subscriptions
- Access control
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- Webhooks
- REST APIs
- Self-hosted support
Both cover
- Cloud support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
3scale
- API gateway and lifecycle managementnot Hasura
- Rate limiting and traffic control across API consumersnot Hasura
- Developer portal and access key managementnot Hasura
- Monetising APIs with usage-based plansnot Hasura
- Hybrid deployment across on-premises and cloudnot Hasura
Hasura
- Automatic GraphQL API generation from existing databasesnot 3scale
- Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot 3scale
- Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot 3scale
- Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot 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
Hasura
- Database support limited to PostgreSQL, MongoDB, ClickHouse, and MS SQL Server only
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
Hasura
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Hasura review.
Which should you pick?
Choose 3scale if
- You need api gateway.
- You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
- You also want developer portal.
Choose Hasura if
- You need graphql api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want real-time subscriptions.
Questions people ask
- Is 3scale or Hasura better?
- Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and Hasura at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 3scale or Hasura?
- Hasura has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/monthly for 3scale and Free for Hasura.
- Does 3scale or Hasura run on more platforms?
- 3scale runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. Hasura runs on Web.
- Can I use Hasura for free?
- Yes. Hasura 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 Hasura is typically brought in for.
- What can 3scale do that Hasura cannot?
- 3scale covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift. Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL. Both handle Cloud support.