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API Management · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs curl

AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

API Management

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
curl logo

curl

API Management

Command-line tool for transferring data using URLs with wide protocol support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; curl free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship
  • They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, curl covers HTTP/HTTPS.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS API Gateway and curl actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and curl differ
AttributeAWS API Gatewaycurl
Pricing modelusage-basedopen-source
PlatformsAWS CloudLinux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile
Founded20061997

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).

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 curl

  • HTTP/HTTPS
  • FTP
  • Multiple protocols
  • Universal compatibility
  • Scripting tools
  • Linux support
  • MacOS support
  • Windows 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 curl
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot curl
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot curl
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot curl
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot curl

curl

  • 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

curl

  • Free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship

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

curl

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full curl functionality
    • 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.
AWS API Gateway review

Choose curl if

  • You need http/https.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile.
  • You also want ftp.
curl review

Questions people ask

Is AWS API Gateway or curl better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway starts at Free and curl at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS API Gateway or curl?
AWS API Gateway starts at Free and curl at Free.
Does AWS API Gateway or curl run on more platforms?
AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. curl runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile.
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 curl is typically brought in for.
What can AWS API Gateway do that curl cannot?
AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda. curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, Multiple protocols, Universal compatibility.
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