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Software · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs Cypress

AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cypress logo

Cypress

Software

JavaScript end-to-end testing framework with browser-based runner and cloud service

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; Cypress limited to web applications; mobile and desktop app testing not supported

Where they differ

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

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and Cypress differ
AttributeAWS API GatewayCypress
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsAWS CloudmacOS, Windows, Linux
Founded2006Unknown

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 Cypress

Nothing recorded that AWS API Gateway does not also cover.

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 Cypress
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot Cypress
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot Cypress
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot Cypress
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot Cypress

Cypress

  • End-to-end testing for modern JavaScript web applicationsnot AWS API Gateway
  • Continuous integration pipelines with parallelised test executionnot AWS API Gateway
  • Visual regression testing and accessibility verificationnot AWS API Gateway
  • Flaky test detection and eliminationnot AWS API Gateway
  • Team collaboration on test maintenance and debuggingnot 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

Cypress

  • Limited to web applications; mobile and desktop app testing not supported
  • Free tier capped at 500 test results/month; insufficient for most development teams
  • Paid features (flake detection, analytics) not included in free tier
  • JavaScript/TypeScript focused; less suitable for polyglot organisations

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

Cypress

Free
  • Starter (Free)Free
    • 500 test results/month
    • 100 prompt executions/month
    • Parallelisation
  • Team$67/month
    • 120k test results/year
    • 9k prompt executions/year
    • Flake detection
  • Business$267/month
    • 120k test results/year
    • 24k prompt executions/year
    • Spec prioritisation
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • 1.8M test results/year
    • 60k prompt executions/year
    • Unlimited users

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 Cypress if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Cypress review

Questions people ask

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