Softwr

API Management · head to head

3scale vs MuleSoft

3scale logo

3scale

API Management

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MuleSoft logo

MuleSoft

Automation & Integration

Integration platform as a service (iPaaS) with robust API management

From
$1500/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; MuleSoft listed on UK G-Cloud at £6.39 per user per month for the Salesforce MuleSoft Anypoint Platform, via reseller Skyflo Digital Ltd
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers Developer Portal, MuleSoft covers API Design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and MuleSoft actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and MuleSoft differ
Attribute3scaleMuleSoft
Starting price$300/monthly$1500/monthly
CategoryAPI ManagementAutomation & Integration
Founded19931999

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid), 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
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes

Only in MuleSoft

  • API Design
  • Integration Platform
  • Salesforce
  • SAP
  • Oracle
  • ServiceNow

Both cover

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

MuleSoft

  • API Developmentnot 3scale
  • API Gatewaynot 3scale
  • API Testingnot 3scale
  • API Documentationnot 3scale
  • Microservicesnot 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

MuleSoft

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud at £6.39 per user per month for the Salesforce MuleSoft Anypoint Platform, via reseller Skyflo Digital Ltd

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

MuleSoft

$1500/monthly
  • Starter$1500/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Design center
    • Basic integration
  • Professional$3500/monthly
    • Advanced integration
    • Analytics
    • Team collaboration
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Full Anypoint platform
    • Custom SLA
    • Advanced security

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 MuleSoft if

  • You need api design.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want integration platform.
MuleSoft review

Questions people ask

Is 3scale or MuleSoft better?
Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and MuleSoft at $1500/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3scale or MuleSoft?
3scale starts at $300/monthly and MuleSoft at $1500/monthly.
Does 3scale or MuleSoft run on more platforms?
Both run on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 MuleSoft is typically brought in for.
What can 3scale do that MuleSoft cannot?
3scale covers Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift, Azure. MuleSoft covers API Design, Integration Platform, Salesforce, SAP. Both handle API Gateway, AWS, Cloud support, On-premises support.
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