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APIs · head to head

3scale vs IBM Cloud

3scale logo

3scale

APIs

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IBM Cloud logo

IBM Cloud

Cloud

Enterprise cloud solutions from a trusted partner

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only IBM Cloud 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; IBM Cloud the USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers Developer Portal, IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and IBM Cloud actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and IBM Cloud differ
Attribute3scaleIBM Cloud
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridLinux, Windows, Api, Cli
CategoryAPIsCloud
Founded19932013

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

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

  • Developer Portal
  • API Monetization
  • Red Hat OpenShift
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Cloud support
  • On-premises support
  • Hybrid support

Only in IBM Cloud

  • Virtual Servers
  • Bare Metal
  • Cloud Foundry
  • Watson AI
  • Blockchain
  • Databases
  • Terraform
  • Ansible

Both cover

  • API Gateway
  • Kubernetes

What people use each for

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

3scale

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

IBM Cloud

  • Running containerized and VM workloads on IBM's public cloudnot 3scale
  • Building on Watson APIs and IBM middleware as managed servicesnot 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

IBM Cloud

  • The USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • The larger promotional credits are time boxed: USD 1,000 for Bare Metal Servers for VPC over 120 days, USD 2,500 for Power Virtual Server over 90 days, and USD 5,000 for Backup and Recovery over 90 days
  • The USD 5,000 Backup and Recovery promotion is valid for new clients only and requires a checkout promo code
  • The listed promotions carry an expiry date of 31 December 2026
  • Beyond the free tier the account is pay as you go, so cost tracks usage with no published cap

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

IBM Cloud

Free
  • Lite PlanFree
    • Free services
    • Limited resources
    • 30-day trial
  • Standard PlanFree
    • Pay-as-you-go
    • Enterprise support
    • Advanced services

Which should you pick?

Choose 3scale if

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

Choose IBM Cloud if

  • You need virtual servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
  • You also want bare metal.
IBM Cloud review

Questions people ask

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

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
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
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
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