Software · head to head
AWS API Gateway vs Spring Cloud Gateway
AWS API Gateway
Software
Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Spring Cloud Gateway
Software
API gateway built on Project Reactor for building microservices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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; Spring Cloud Gateway released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier
- They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which AWS API Gateway and Spring Cloud Gateway actually diverge.
| Attribute | AWS API Gateway | Spring Cloud Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | usage-based | open-source |
| Platforms | AWS Cloud | Java, Spring Boot |
| Founded | 2006 | 1998 |
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 Spring Cloud Gateway
- Routing
- Path Rewriting
- Circuit Breaker
- Spring Boot
- Spring Security
- Spring Cloud
- Java support
- Spring Boot 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 Spring Cloud Gateway
- REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot Spring Cloud Gateway
- WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot Spring Cloud Gateway
- Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot Spring Cloud Gateway
- Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot Spring Cloud Gateway
Spring Cloud Gateway
- 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
Spring Cloud Gateway
- Released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier
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
Spring Cloud Gateway
Free- Open SourceFree
- Core Spring Cloud Gateway
- 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.
Choose Spring Cloud Gateway if
- You need routing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Java, Spring Boot.
- You also want path rewriting.
Questions people ask
- Is AWS API Gateway or Spring Cloud Gateway better?
- Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Spring Cloud Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, AWS API Gateway or Spring Cloud Gateway?
- AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Spring Cloud Gateway at Free.
- Does AWS API Gateway or Spring Cloud Gateway run on more platforms?
- AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. Spring Cloud Gateway runs on Java, Spring Boot.
- 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 Spring Cloud Gateway is typically brought in for.
- What can AWS API Gateway do that Spring Cloud Gateway cannot?
- AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda. Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Path Rewriting, Circuit Breaker, Spring Boot.