Software · head to head
AWS API Gateway vs Zephyr Scale

AWS API Gateway
Software
Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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; Zephyr Scale split across separate Essential and Advanced editions plus a distinct Zephyr Enterprise on-premises product, so buyers must pick the right SKU before pricing applies
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which AWS API Gateway and Zephyr Scale actually diverge.
| Attribute | AWS API Gateway | Zephyr Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | usage-based | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | AWS Cloud | Web |
| Founded | 2006 | Unknown |
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 Zephyr Scale
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 Zephyr Scale
- REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot Zephyr Scale
- WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot Zephyr Scale
- Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot Zephyr Scale
- Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot Zephyr Scale
Zephyr Scale
No use cases recorded yet. See the Zephyr Scale 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
Zephyr Scale
- Split across separate Essential and Advanced editions plus a distinct Zephyr Enterprise on-premises product, so buyers must pick the right SKU before pricing applies
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
Zephyr Scale
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Zephyr Scale 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.
Choose Zephyr Scale if
Nothing in the data separates Zephyr Scale from AWS API Gateway on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is AWS API Gateway or Zephyr Scale better?
- Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway starts at Free and Zephyr Scale at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, AWS API Gateway or Zephyr Scale?
- AWS API Gateway has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AWS API Gateway and On request for Zephyr Scale.
- Does AWS API Gateway or Zephyr Scale run on more platforms?
- AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. Zephyr Scale 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. Zephyr Scale starts at On request.
- 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 Zephyr Scale is typically brought in for.
- What can AWS API Gateway do that Zephyr Scale cannot?
- AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda.
Related pages
More on AWS API Gateway
More on Zephyr Scale
Keep looking
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