Software · head to head
Akana vs WSO2 API Manager
WSO2 API Manager
Software
Complete API management platform for designing and managing APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only WSO2 API Manager has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Akana owned by Perforce and sold within their portfolio rather than independently, and akana.com redirects to perforce.com; WSO2 API Manager the free open source distribution does not include a subscription to the WSO2 Update service, so continuous improvements and security patches require a paid subscription
- They diverge on capability: Akana covers API Lifecycle Management, WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Akana and WSO2 API Manager actually diverge.
| Attribute | Akana | WSO2 API Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2500/monthly | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid | Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes |
| Founded | 2001 | 2005 |
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 Akana
- API Lifecycle Management
- API Security
- Governance Controls
- OAuth
- SAML
- Active Directory
- Cloud support
- On-premise support
Only in WSO2 API Manager
- API Gateway
- API Designer
- Developer Portal
- Okta
- Keycloak
- Microservices
- Java support
- Linux support
Both cover
- LDAP
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Akana
- API lifecycle management across REST, SOAP and GraphQLnot WSO2 API Manager
- Applying OAuth, JWT and SAML policies at the gatewaynot WSO2 API Manager
- Running the same platform on-premises, in Kubernetes or across cloudsnot WSO2 API Manager
- Developer portal and API monetisationnot WSO2 API Manager
- Monitoring API traffic and enforcing quotasnot WSO2 API Manager
WSO2 API Manager
- Publishing, securing and rate limiting APIs behind a gatewaynot Akana
- Running an API developer portal with subscription key managementnot Akana
- Self hosting an open source API management layer on premisesnot Akana
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Akana
- Owned by Perforce and sold within their portfolio rather than independently, and akana.com redirects to perforce.com
- Pricing is not published; only a 30 day trial is offered
WSO2 API Manager
- The free open source distribution does not include a subscription to the WSO2 Update service, so continuous improvements and security patches require a paid subscription
- A commercial production licence is not part of the free download and comes only with a subscription
- No subscription price is published; Basic Support and Enterprise Support both require contacting sales for a quote
- 24x7x365 coverage requires Enterprise Support; the general query SLA is one business day
- A Customer Success Manager is a paid optional add on covering business hours only
- Consulting services and WSO2 Private Cloud hosting are quoted separately
Pricing, plan by plan
Akana
$2500/monthly- Professional$2500/monthly
- API Gateway
- Developer Portal
- Basic analytics
- Enterprise$5000/monthly
- Advanced governance
- Multi-cloud support
- Premium support
- Custom$undefined/monthly
- Custom solutions
- Dedicated support
- SLA guarantee
WSO2 API Manager
Free- CommunityFree
- Core API management
- Community support
- Commercial$undefined/monthly
- Enterprise features
- Technical support
- SLA
Which should you pick?
Choose Akana if
- You need api lifecycle management.
- You work on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
- You also want api security.
Choose WSO2 API Manager if
- You need api gateway.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
- You also want api designer.
Questions people ask
- Is Akana or WSO2 API Manager better?
- Neither clearly leads. Akana starts at $2500/monthly and WSO2 API Manager at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Akana or WSO2 API Manager?
- WSO2 API Manager has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2500/monthly for Akana and Free for WSO2 API Manager.
- Does Akana or WSO2 API Manager run on more platforms?
- Akana runs on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid. WSO2 API Manager runs on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
- Can I use WSO2 API Manager for free?
- Yes. WSO2 API Manager has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Akana starts at $2500/monthly.
- What is Akana best used for?
- Akana is most often used for api lifecycle management across rest, soap and graphql, applying oauth, jwt and saml policies at the gateway, running the same platform on-premises, in kubernetes or across clouds, developer portal and api monetisation. Of those, api lifecycle management across rest, soap and graphql and applying oauth, jwt and saml policies at the gateway are not what WSO2 API Manager is typically brought in for.
- What can Akana do that WSO2 API Manager cannot?
- Akana covers API Lifecycle Management, API Security, Governance Controls, OAuth. WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway, API Designer, Developer Portal, Okta. Both handle LDAP.