Software · head to head
AWS API Gateway vs Asyncapi
AWS API Gateway
Software
Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Asyncapi
Software
Specification and tools for defining asynchronous APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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; Asyncapi complex to implement and debug asynchronous operations due to their non-linear and concurrent nature
- They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, Asyncapi covers API Specification.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which AWS API Gateway and Asyncapi actually diverge.
| Attribute | AWS API Gateway | Asyncapi |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | usage-based | open-source |
| Platforms | AWS Cloud | Web, CLI, IDE Extensions |
| Founded | 2006 | 2019 |
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 AWS API Gateway
- REST APIs
- WebSocket APIs
- HTTP APIs
- Lambda
- EC2
- DynamoDB
- CloudWatch
- IAM
Only in Asyncapi
- API Specification
- Code generation
- Documentation
- Multiple messaging protocols
- Code generators
- Specification support
- Tools support
- CLI support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
AWS API Gateway
- Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot Asyncapi
- REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot Asyncapi
- WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot Asyncapi
- Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot Asyncapi
- Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot Asyncapi
Asyncapi
- API Developmentnot AWS API Gateway
- API Gatewaynot AWS API Gateway
- API Testingnot AWS API Gateway
- API Documentationnot AWS API Gateway
- Microservicesnot AWS API Gateway
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Asyncapi
Free- Open SourceFree
- AsyncAPI specification
- Tools
- Community support
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is AWS API Gateway or Asyncapi better?
- Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Asyncapi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, AWS API Gateway or Asyncapi?
- AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Asyncapi at Free.
- Does AWS API Gateway or Asyncapi run on more platforms?
- AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. Asyncapi runs on Web, CLI, IDE Extensions.
- Can I use AWS API Gateway for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is AWS API Gateway best used for?
- AWS API Gateway is most often used for fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint, rest and http api management with throttling and keys, websocket apis for real-time clients, private apis reachable only inside a vpc. Of those, fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint and rest and http api management with throttling and keys are not what Asyncapi is typically brought in for.
- What can AWS API Gateway do that Asyncapi cannot?
- AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda. Asyncapi covers API Specification, Code generation, Documentation, Multiple messaging protocols.
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.
Source