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API Management · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs Portkey

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
P

Portkey

API Management

Observe, govern, and secure every AI interaction across your enterprise

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; Portkey the free Developer tier records only 10,000 logs per month with 3 day log retention; the $49 per month Production tier raises that to 100,000 logs with $9 per additional 100,000 requests, as of August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and Portkey differ
AttributeAWS API GatewayPortkey
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsAWS CloudWeb
Founded2006Unknown

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 Portkey

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

Portkey

No use cases recorded yet. See the Portkey review.

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

Portkey

  • The free Developer tier records only 10,000 logs per month with 3 day log retention; the $49 per month Production tier raises that to 100,000 logs with $9 per additional 100,000 requests, as of August 2026.

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

Portkey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Portkey 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 Portkey if

  • You want to start without paying.
Portkey review

Questions people ask

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