Software · head to head
Asyncapi vs Spring Cloud Gateway

Asyncapi
Software
Specification and tools for defining asynchronous APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -

Spring Cloud Gateway
Software
API gateway built on Project Reactor for building microservices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Asyncapi complex to implement and debug asynchronous operations due to their non-linear and concurrent nature; Spring Cloud Gateway released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier
- They diverge on capability: Asyncapi covers API Specification, Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Asyncapi and Spring Cloud Gateway actually diverge.
| Attribute | Asyncapi | Spring Cloud Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, CLI, IDE Extensions | Java, Spring Boot |
| Founded | 2019 | 1998 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), 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 Asyncapi
- API Specification
- Code generation
- Documentation
- Multiple messaging protocols
- Code generators
- Specification support
- Tools support
- CLI support
Only in Spring Cloud Gateway
- Routing
- Path Rewriting
- Circuit Breaker
- Spring Boot
- Spring Security
- Spring Cloud
- Java support
- Spring Boot support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Asyncapi
- API Development
- API Gateway
- API Testing
- API Documentation
- Microservices
Spring Cloud Gateway
- API Development
- API Gateway
- API Testing
- API Documentation
- Microservices
Both are used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation, microservices, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Asyncapi
- Complex to implement and debug asynchronous operations due to their non-linear and concurrent nature
- Keeping AsyncAPI documents up to date is challenging as systems evolve
- Tracing and debugging asynchronous operations is more difficult than synchronous request-response patterns
Spring Cloud Gateway
- Released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier
Pricing, plan by plan
Asyncapi
Free- Open SourceFree
- AsyncAPI specification
- Tools
- Community support
Spring Cloud Gateway
Free- Open SourceFree
- Core Spring Cloud Gateway
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Asyncapi if
- You need api specification.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, CLI, IDE Extensions.
- You also want code generation.
Choose Spring Cloud Gateway if
- You need routing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Java, Spring Boot.
- You also want path rewriting.
Questions people ask
- Is Asyncapi or Spring Cloud Gateway better?
- Neither clearly leads. Asyncapi starts at Free and Spring Cloud Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Asyncapi or Spring Cloud Gateway?
- Asyncapi starts at Free and Spring Cloud Gateway at Free.
- Does Asyncapi or Spring Cloud Gateway run on more platforms?
- Asyncapi runs on Web, CLI, IDE Extensions. Spring Cloud Gateway runs on Java, Spring Boot.
- Can I use Asyncapi for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Asyncapi best used for?
- Asyncapi is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation.
- What can Asyncapi do that Spring Cloud Gateway cannot?
- Asyncapi covers API Specification, Code generation, Documentation, Multiple messaging protocols. Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Path Rewriting, Circuit Breaker, Spring Boot.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Asyncapi: What is AsyncAPI used for?
AsyncAPI is an open-source specification for defining and documenting asynchronous APIs, message-driven systems, and event-driven architectures. It serves the same purpose for async APIs as OpenAPI does for REST APIs, providing standardized documentation, code generation, and tooling.
SourceAsyncapi: Is AsyncAPI free to use?
Yes, AsyncAPI is completely free and open-source. It is hosted by the Linux Foundation and supported by community contributions and sponsorships from companies like Postman, IBM, IQVIA Technology, and Solace.
SourceAsyncapi: What protocols and technologies does AsyncAPI support?
AsyncAPI supports multiple protocols and technologies including Kafka, RabbitMQ, MQTT, Socket.IO, AWS EventBridge, and others. It provides language support for JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Java, Go, C#/.NET, Kotlin, and PHP.
SourceAsyncapi: Does AsyncAPI have IDE support?
Yes, AsyncAPI has IDE extensions available for VSCode and IntelliJ, along with CLI utilities and GitHub Actions integration for developers.
SourceRelated pages
More on Spring Cloud Gateway
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