Softwr

API Management · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs HTTPie

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
HTTPie logo

HTTPie

API Management

Command-line HTTP client with intuitive interface and syntax

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; HTTPie the desktop application is in public beta rather than a finished release
  • They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, HTTPie covers REST Client.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and HTTPie differ
AttributeAWS API GatewayHTTPie
Pricing modelusage-basedopen-source
PlatformsAWS CloudLinux, MacOS, Windows, Web
Founded20062012

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 HTTPie

  • REST Client
  • JSON support
  • Colored output
  • CI/CD
  • Shell scripting
  • Automation
  • Linux support
  • MacOS 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 HTTPie
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot HTTPie
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot HTTPie
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot HTTPie
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot HTTPie

HTTPie

  • Sending and inspecting HTTP requests from the terminalnot AWS API Gateway
  • A readable alternative to curl for API debuggingnot AWS API Gateway
  • Testing APIs through a graphical clientnot AWS API Gateway
  • Installing through apt, brew or pip in a development environmentnot 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

HTTPie

  • The desktop application is in public beta rather than a finished release
  • Pricing for the desktop and web products is not published, while the terminal client is free and open source
  • The graphical versions are newer than the CLI, so parity between them is not guaranteed

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

HTTPie

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full HTTPie CLI
    • Community support
  • HTTPie for Web$10/monthly
    • Web interface
    • Cloud storage
    • Team collaboration

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 HTTPie if

  • You need rest client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Web.
  • You also want json support.
HTTPie review

Questions people ask

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

Related pages

More on AWS API Gateway

More on HTTPie

Keep looking

Other head to heads