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APIs · head to head

Apidog vs Kong

Apidog logo

Apidog

APIs

All-in-one platform for API design, documentation, testing, and mocking

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kong logo

Kong

APIs

Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apidog free plan is capped at 4 users, limiting larger teams from using it at no cost.; Kong the Plus plan includes 1M API requests a month and charges $200 a month for each additional million
  • They diverge on capability: Apidog covers API design and documentation, Kong covers API Gateway.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apidog and Kong actually diverge.

Attributes where Apidog and Kong differ
AttributeApidogKong
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Platformsweb, windows, mac, linuxLinux, Docker, Kubernetes
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Apidog

  • API design and documentation
  • Mock servers
  • Automated testing
  • Team collaboration
  • Scheduled imports
  • Branded documentation

Only in Kong

  • API Gateway
  • Authentication & Authorization
  • Rate Limiting
  • Kubernetes
  • Consul
  • Eureka
  • PostgreSQL
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Apidog

  • Designing and documenting APIs in a shared team workspacenot Kong
  • Mocking API responses for frontend development before backend is readynot Kong
  • Running automated API test suitesnot Kong
  • Replacing separate Postman, Swagger, and mock-server tools with one platformnot Kong

Kong

  • API gateway management and routingnot Apidog
  • API development and testingnot Apidog
  • Enterprise API security and governancenot Apidog

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apidog

  • Free plan is capped at 4 users, limiting larger teams from using it at no cost.
  • Faster scheduled imports and unlimited projects require the Professional tier or higher.
  • Smaller community and plugin ecosystem compared to long-established tools like Postman.
  • Advanced enterprise security controls require the top-tier Enterprise plan.

Kong

  • The Plus plan includes 1M API requests a month and charges $200 a month for each additional million
  • Plus is capped at 10M requests a month, so growth past that forces an Enterprise contract
  • Plus limits published APIs to 20 and includes one Developer Portal, with a second at $200 a month
  • SSO and audit logging are Enterprise only
  • Enterprise pricing is custom and billed annually

Pricing, plan by plan

Apidog

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 4 users
    • Core design, mock, and testing features
  • Basic$9/month
    • Per-seat pricing billed annually
    • Expanded team collaboration
  • Professional$18/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Team-level shared variables
    • Faster scheduled imports
  • Enterprise$27/month
    • Advanced admin and security controls
    • Priority support

Kong

Free
  • Kong Konnect Free TrialFree
    • 30-day free trial
    • Full enterprise functionality
    • Unlimited gateways
  • Kong Konnect Plus$null/month
    • Per gateway pricing billed monthly
    • Up to 5 Serverless Gateways, 2 Hybrid, 2 Dedicated Cloud Gateways
    • 1M API requests included per month
  • Kong Insomnia EssentialsFree
    • Unlimited projects and CLI access
    • Up to 3 Git Sync users
    • 1,000 mock server requests per month
  • Kong Insomnia Pro$12/month
    • Unlimited users with Git Sync access
    • Unlimited organizations
    • RBAC

Which should you pick?

Choose Apidog if

  • You need api design and documentation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want mock servers.
Apidog review

Choose Kong if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want authentication & authorization.
Kong review

Questions people ask

Is Apidog or Kong better?
Neither clearly leads. Apidog starts at Free and Kong at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apidog or Kong?
Apidog starts at Free and Kong at Free.
Does Apidog or Kong run on more platforms?
Apidog runs on web, windows, mac, linux. Kong runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use Apidog for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apidog best used for?
Apidog is most often used for designing and documenting apis in a shared team workspace, mocking api responses for frontend development before backend is ready, running automated api test suites, replacing separate postman, swagger, and mock-server tools with one platform. Of those, designing and documenting apis in a shared team workspace and mocking api responses for frontend development before backend is ready are not what Kong is typically brought in for.
What can Apidog do that Kong cannot?
Apidog covers API design and documentation, Mock servers, Automated testing, Team collaboration. Kong covers API Gateway, Authentication & Authorization, Rate Limiting, Kubernetes.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apidog: What does Apidog cost?

Apidog offers a free plan for up to 4 users, with paid per-seat plans at roughly $9/month for Basic, $18/month for Professional, and $27/month for Enterprise when billed annually.

Source
Kong: Does Kong offer a free trial?

Yes, Kong Konnect offers a 30-day free trial with full enterprise functionality, unlimited gateways, and no credit card required.

Source
Apidog: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

The free plan supports up to 4 users with access to core design, documentation, mocking, and testing features.

Source
Kong: How much does Kong Insomnia Pro cost?

Kong Insomnia Pro is $12 per user per month with 15% savings available for annual billing.

Source
Apidog: Can I try paid plans before subscribing?

Paid plans include a 14-day free trial, giving teams full access to premium features before committing to a subscription.

Source
Kong: What are Kong Konnect Plus API request limits?

Kong Konnect Plus includes 1M API requests per month; additional requests cost $200 per 1M (maximum 10M per month).

Source
Kong: What is included in Kong Insomnia Enterprise?

Kong Insomnia Enterprise is $45 per user per month with SSO, SCIM, vault integrations, unlimited mock server requests, and Konnect integration.

Source
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