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API Management · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs Freshdesk

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
Freshdesk logo

Freshdesk

All industries

Delight your customers, effortlessly

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AWS API Gateway has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Freshdesk growth tier lacks multilingual helpdesk and custom reporting dashboards
  • They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, Freshdesk covers Ticketing.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and Freshdesk differ
AttributeAWS API GatewayFreshdesk
Starting priceFree$19/month
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAWS CloudWeb
CategoryAPI ManagementAll industries
Founded20062010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Freshdesk

  • Ticketing
  • Automation
  • Self-service
  • Team collaboration
  • Multi-channel support
  • SLA management
  • Reporting
  • Mobile apps

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

Freshdesk

  • Help desk and ticketing systemnot AWS API Gateway
  • Customer support portal and knowledge basenot AWS API Gateway
  • Multi-channel support coordinationnot AWS API Gateway
  • AI-assisted support agent interactionnot 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

Freshdesk

  • Growth tier lacks multilingual helpdesk and custom reporting dashboards
  • Skill-based routing available only on Enterprise tier
  • Freddy AI Copilot requires separate £29/agent/month add-on on Pro and Enterprise plans
  • AI agent sessions charged beyond initial 500 sessions: £49 per additional 100 sessions
  • Day passes for non-agents vary by tier: £2 (Growth), £7 (Pro), £12 (Enterprise)

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

Freshdesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Freshdesk review.

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 Freshdesk if

  • You need ticketing.
  • You also want automation.
Freshdesk review

Questions people ask

Is AWS API Gateway or Freshdesk better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Freshdesk at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS API Gateway or Freshdesk?
AWS API Gateway has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AWS API Gateway and $19/month for Freshdesk.
Does AWS API Gateway or Freshdesk run on more platforms?
AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. Freshdesk runs on Web.
Can I use AWS API Gateway for free?
Yes. AWS API Gateway has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Freshdesk starts at $19/month.
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 Freshdesk is typically brought in for.
What can AWS API Gateway do that Freshdesk cannot?
AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda. Freshdesk covers Ticketing, Automation, Self-service, Team collaboration.
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