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API Management · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs Swagger/OpenAPI

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
S

Swagger/OpenAPI

API Management

API specification and documentation framework using OpenAPI standard

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; Swagger/OpenAPI the OpenAPI Specification itself is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and free to use; SwaggerHub is a separate paid tool built on top of it
  • They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, Swagger/OpenAPI covers OpenAPI Specification.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS API Gateway and Swagger/OpenAPI actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and Swagger/OpenAPI differ
AttributeAWS API GatewaySwagger/OpenAPI
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsAWS CloudWeb, CLI, Desktop
Founded20062001

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 Swagger/OpenAPI

  • OpenAPI Specification
  • Interactive Documentation
  • Code Generation
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Jenkins
  • IDE plugins
  • Web 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 Swagger/OpenAPI
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot Swagger/OpenAPI
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot Swagger/OpenAPI
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot Swagger/OpenAPI
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot Swagger/OpenAPI

Swagger/OpenAPI

  • 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

Swagger/OpenAPI

  • The OpenAPI Specification itself is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and free to use; SwaggerHub is a separate paid tool built on top of it

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

Swagger/OpenAPI

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • OpenAPI specification
    • Community tools
  • SwaggerHub FreeFree
    • Cloud editor
    • API mocking
    • API testing
  • SwaggerHub Pro$75/monthly
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced mocking
    • Analytics

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 Swagger/OpenAPI if

  • You need openapi specification.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, CLI, Desktop.
  • You also want interactive documentation.
Swagger/OpenAPI review

Questions people ask

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