Software · head to head
Appwrite vs AWS API Gateway
Appwrite
Software
Open-source Backend as a Service with REST API and SDKs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
AWS API Gateway
Software
Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Appwrite smaller ecosystem compared to Firebase; fewer third-party integrations and extensions; AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
- They diverge on capability: Appwrite covers REST API, AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Appwrite and AWS API Gateway actually diverge.
| Attribute | Appwrite | AWS API Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | usage-based |
| Platforms | Cloud (Managed), Self-Hosted, Docker | AWS Cloud |
| Founded | 2019 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Appwrite
- REST API
- Authentication
- Database
- Multiple SDKs
- Cloud functions
- File storage
- Docker support
- Self-hosted support
Only in AWS API Gateway
- REST APIs
- WebSocket APIs
- HTTP APIs
- Lambda
- EC2
- DynamoDB
- CloudWatch
- IAM
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Appwrite
- API Developmentnot AWS API Gateway
- API Gatewaynot AWS API Gateway
- API Testingnot AWS API Gateway
- API Documentationnot AWS API Gateway
- Microservicesnot AWS API Gateway
AWS API Gateway
- Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot Appwrite
- REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot Appwrite
- WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot Appwrite
- Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot Appwrite
- Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot Appwrite
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Appwrite
- Smaller ecosystem compared to Firebase; fewer third-party integrations and extensions
- Analytics, crash reporting, and A/B testing not included (Firebase includes these)
- Requires infrastructure management for self-hosted deployments; not fully managed like Firebase Cloud
- Mobile app support not as mature as Firebase's native iOS/Android SDKs
AWS API Gateway
- REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
- Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
- WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
- Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
- The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
- The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing
Pricing, plan by plan
Appwrite
Free- Cloud FreeFree
- 75K MAU
- 10GB storage
- Unlimited projects
- Cloud Pro$15/month
- More storage
- Priority support
AWS API Gateway
Free- Free TierFree
- 1M requests per month
- Basic API management
- Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
- Unlimited requests
- HTTP APIs
- REST APIs
Which should you pick?
Choose Appwrite if
- You need rest api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud (Managed), Self-Hosted, Docker.
- You also want authentication.
Choose AWS API Gateway if
- You need rest apis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on AWS Cloud.
- You also want websocket apis.
Questions people ask
- Is Appwrite or AWS API Gateway better?
- Neither clearly leads. Appwrite starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Appwrite or AWS API Gateway?
- Appwrite starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free.
- Does Appwrite or AWS API Gateway run on more platforms?
- Appwrite runs on Cloud (Managed), Self-Hosted, Docker. AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud.
- Can I use Appwrite for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Appwrite best used for?
- Appwrite is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what AWS API Gateway is typically brought in for.
- What can Appwrite do that AWS API Gateway cannot?
- Appwrite covers REST API, Authentication, Database, Multiple SDKs. AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Appwrite: Can Appwrite be self-hosted?
Yes. Appwrite is fully open-source and self-hosted with a single Docker command. Self-hosting is completely free with no feature restrictions, unlike the managed Appwrite Cloud.
SourceAppwrite: What is Appwrite Cloud's pricing?
Appwrite Cloud offers a free tier with unlimited projects, 75K monthly active users, and 10GB storage with no time limit. Pro plan starts at $15/month per organization member. Scale plan at $599/month includes dedicated resources and SOC 2 compliance.
SourceAppwrite: What programming languages does Appwrite support?
Appwrite provides SDKs for 15+ languages including JavaScript, Flutter, Swift, Kotlin, Python, Ruby, PHP, .NET, and more, offering more language flexibility than Firebase.
SourceAppwrite: What backend services does Appwrite provide?
Appwrite includes Auth (with multi-factor auth), Databases, Storage (with compression and encryption), Serverless Functions, Messaging, Realtime subscriptions, and Sites (for hosting static and full-stack apps).
SourceAppwrite: Does Appwrite include real-time capabilities?
Yes. Appwrite's Realtime service covers all platform services by default through WebSocket subscriptions, enabling real-time updates across databases, functions, and messages.
SourceAppwrite: How does Appwrite compare to Firebase on costs?
Appwrite offers better cost predictability. Firebase's pay-per-read/write model can lead to unexpected bills with runaway queries, while Appwrite's self-hosted model only requires paying for your own infrastructure with completely predictable costs.
Source