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Software · head to head

3scale vs RudderStack

3scale logo

3scale

Software

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RudderStack logo

RudderStack

Software

The open-source customer data platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only RudderStack 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; RudderStack on the free plan data processing stops after a second consecutive overage rather than being billed, so exceeding 250,000 events twice breaks the pipeline
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers API Gateway, RudderStack covers Data collection.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 3scale and RudderStack differ
Attribute3scaleRudderStack
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridWeb, Self-hosted
Founded19932018

Identical on both: 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 Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • API Monetization
  • Red Hat OpenShift
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud support

Only in RudderStack

  • Data collection
  • Event tracking
  • Audience segmentation
  • Warehouse ingestion
  • Real-time sync
  • Data transformation
  • Privacy controls
  • 200+ destinations

What people use each for

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

3scale

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

RudderStack

  • Collecting event data from apps and websites and routing it to warehouses and toolsnot 3scale
  • Building a warehouse first customer data pipelinenot 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

RudderStack

  • On the free plan data processing stops after a second consecutive overage rather than being billed, so exceeding 250,000 events twice breaks the pipeline
  • The free plan allows 250,000 events a month
  • Growth starts at $265 a month for 1 million events, with volume sold in tiers up to 25 million
  • Overage is charged as the gap to the next tier's price rather than per event, so a small excess costs a full tier step

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

RudderStack

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Self-hosted
    • Community support
  • Cloud$100/month
    • Cloud hosted
    • Email support
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Dedicated support
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose 3scale if

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

Choose RudderStack if

  • You need data collection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want event tracking.
RudderStack review

Questions people ask

Is 3scale or RudderStack better?
Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and RudderStack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3scale or RudderStack?
RudderStack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/monthly for 3scale and Free for RudderStack.
Does 3scale or RudderStack run on more platforms?
3scale runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. RudderStack runs on Web, Self-hosted.
Can I use RudderStack for free?
Yes. RudderStack 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 RudderStack is typically brought in for.
What can 3scale do that RudderStack cannot?
3scale covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift. RudderStack covers Data collection, Event tracking, Audience segmentation, Warehouse ingestion.
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