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APIs · head to head

Apidog vs Solaris

Apidog logo

Apidog

APIs

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Solaris logo

Solaris

APIs

German banking as a service with a full banking licence and a live regulatory problem

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Apidog has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apidog free plan is capped at 4 users, limiting larger teams from using it at no cost.; Solaris baFin appointed a special representative in 2022 and extended the mandate in July 2024, so a partner is joining a bank under active supervisory monitoring, with slower approvals and heavier compliance demands as a direct consequence.
  • They diverge on capability: Apidog covers API design and documentation, Solaris covers German banking licence.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apidog and Solaris actually diverge.

Attributes where Apidog and Solaris differ
AttributeApidogSolaris
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
Platformsweb, windows, mac, linuxWeb, API

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 Apidog

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

Only in Solaris

  • German banking licence
  • IBAN accounts
  • Card issuing
  • Lending as a service
  • Digital assets and custody
  • SEPA payments
  • KYC and onboarding
  • Deposit protection

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 Solaris
  • Mocking API responses for frontend development before backend is readynot Solaris
  • Running automated API test suitesnot Solaris
  • Replacing separate Postman, Swagger, and mock-server tools with one platformnot Solaris

Solaris

  • A retailer or platform launching a German current account or card product without applying for its own licencenot Apidog
  • A fintech that needs deposit taking and lending, which an e-money licence cannot providenot Apidog
  • A European business needing German IBANs because customers reject foreign IBANs for salary and direct debitnot Apidog
  • A company requiring German statutory deposit protection on customer balances as a product claimnot 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.

Solaris

  • BaFin appointed a special representative in 2022 and extended the mandate in July 2024, so a partner is joining a bank under active supervisory monitoring, with slower approvals and heavier compliance demands as a direct consequence.
  • BaFin fined Solaris EUR 6.5 million in March 2024 for systematically late suspicious activity reports and EUR 500,000 for breaching large exposure limits between January 2022 and March 2024, which is a track record a partner inherits reputationally.
  • Solaris has previously needed BaFin approval before onboarding new corporate clients, which can turn a commercial decision to launch into a regulatory timetable outside your control.
  • The 2024 restructuring involved job cuts and the closure of parts of a business unit, so product lines a partner depends on may not have the engineering behind them that the sales process implies.
  • SBI Holdings acquired majority control in 2025, so strategic direction now sits with a Japanese financial group whose priorities for the European business may differ from the roadmap you were sold.

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

Solaris

On request
  • Solaris banking as a service$undefined/year
    • Quoted per partner, typically setup fee plus monthly platform fee
    • Per account, per card and per transaction charges on top
    • Interchange sharing arrangements negotiated per programme

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.

Choose Solaris if

  • You need german banking licence.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want iban accounts.

Questions people ask

Is Apidog or Solaris better?
Neither clearly leads. Apidog starts at Free and Solaris at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apidog or Solaris?
Apidog has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apidog and On request for Solaris.
Does Apidog or Solaris run on more platforms?
Apidog runs on web, windows, mac, linux. Solaris runs on Web, API.
Can I use Apidog for free?
Yes. Apidog has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Solaris starts at On request.
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 Solaris is typically brought in for.
What can Apidog do that Solaris cannot?
Apidog covers API design and documentation, Mock servers, Automated testing, Team collaboration. Solaris covers German banking licence, IBAN accounts, Card issuing, Lending as a service.

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
Solaris: Does Solaris have a real banking licence?

Yes. Solaris SE is a German credit institution, which is why it can offer deposits and lending, unlike e-money based competitors.

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
Solaris: Is the BaFin action still live?

The special representative appointed in 2022 had the mandate extended in July 2024, and fines were issued in March 2024. Treat supervisory oversight as an active condition in your diligence.

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
Solaris: Who owns Solaris now?

SBI Holdings of Japan agreed in December 2024 and January 2025 to take a majority stake of over seventy per cent for around EUR 100 million.

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