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Software · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs Zendesk

AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

Software

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk logo

Zendesk

Software

Champions of customer service

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; Zendesk aI agents operate on per-resolution billing; customers pay only when an AI agent successfully resolves a ticket without escalation
  • They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, Zendesk covers Ticket management.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and Zendesk differ
AttributeAWS API GatewayZendesk
Starting priceFree$19/month
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAWS CloudWeb
Founded20062007

Identical on both: 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 Zendesk

  • Ticket management
  • Omnichannel support
  • Knowledge base
  • Live chat
  • Call center
  • Analytics & reporting
  • Automation
  • Customer satisfaction

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

Zendesk

  • Help desk and ticketing system managementnot AWS API Gateway
  • Omnichannel customer supportnot AWS API Gateway
  • Knowledge base and self-service portalsnot AWS API Gateway
  • AI-assisted customer servicenot 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

Zendesk

  • AI agents operate on per-resolution billing; customers pay only when an AI agent successfully resolves a ticket without escalation
  • Copilot and Contact Center features available as separate add-ons at £50+/agent/month
  • Advanced routing, workforce engagement, and approval workflows limited to Enterprise tier
  • Highest tier requires sales consultation and custom pricing

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

Zendesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zendesk 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 Zendesk if

  • You need ticket management.
  • You also want omnichannel support.
Zendesk review

Questions people ask

Is AWS API Gateway or Zendesk better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Zendesk 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 Zendesk?
AWS API Gateway has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AWS API Gateway and $19/month for Zendesk.
Does AWS API Gateway or Zendesk run on more platforms?
AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. Zendesk 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. Zendesk 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 Zendesk is typically brought in for.
What can AWS API Gateway do that Zendesk cannot?
AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda. Zendesk covers Ticket management, Omnichannel support, Knowledge base, Live chat.
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