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APIs · head to head

3scale vs Tyk

3scale logo

3scale

APIs

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tyk logo

Tyk

APIs

Open-source API gateway and API management platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Tyk 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; Tyk professional and Enterprise plan pricing not published; contact required
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers Developer Portal, Tyk covers Rate Limiting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 3scale and Tyk differ
Attribute3scaleTyk
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud
Founded19932013

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

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
  • On-premises support
  • Hybrid support

Only in Tyk

  • Rate Limiting
  • Authentication
  • Docker
  • Linux support
  • Docker support
  • Kubernetes support

Both cover

  • API Gateway
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

3scale

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

Tyk

  • API gateway and API management platformsnot 3scale
  • Microservices architecture orchestrationnot 3scale
  • High-growth teams standardizing on API platformsnot 3scale
  • Enterprises requiring advanced security and governancenot 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

Tyk

  • Professional and Enterprise plan pricing not published; contact required
  • Core plan uses consumption-based model with variable costs
  • No upfront pricing transparency for production deployments

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

Tyk

Free
  • Free TrialFree
    • Fully featured 48-hour trial
    • No credit card required
    • Tyk Cloud access
  • Core Plan$null/month
    • Usage-based flexible pricing
    • Cloud, Hybrid, or Self-managed deployment
    • Unlimited API gateways
  • Professional Plan$null/month
    • One fixed price with unlimited access
    • All deployment options
    • Unlimited APIs and requests
  • Enterprise Plan$null/month
    • Custom pricing required
    • Advanced governance and security
    • Premium support with custom SLAs

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 Tyk if

  • You need rate limiting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud.
  • You also want authentication.
Tyk review

Questions people ask

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

Tyk offers a free 48-hour trial with no credit card required. The Core plan uses usage-based pricing on a flexible model. Professional plan offers unlimited access at a fixed price (amount not published). Enterprise plans require custom pricing.

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
Tyk: Is there a free trial of Tyk?

Yes, Tyk provides a fully featured 48-hour free trial of Tyk Cloud that requires no credit card to start.

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
Tyk: What deployment options are included in Tyk pricing?

All Tyk plans support Cloud, Hybrid, or Self-managed deployment options without feature restrictions, allowing flexible infrastructure choices across pricing tiers.

Source
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