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API Management · head to head

Microsoft Azure API Management vs CircleCI

Microsoft Azure API Management logo

Microsoft Azure API Management

API Management

Hybrid, multi-cloud API management service on Azure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CircleCI logo

CircleCI

Testing & QA

The leading CI/CD platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Azure API Management prices are not shown on the pricing page itself; every tier renders as a placeholder and routes to the calculator or sales; CircleCI the free plan covers 6,000 build minutes and 5 active users a month

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Azure API Management and CircleCI actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Azure API Management and CircleCI differ
AttributeMicrosoft Azure API ManagementCircleCI
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsCloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloudWeb
CategoryAPI ManagementTesting & QA
Founded19752011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Microsoft Azure API Management

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • API Policies
  • Azure services
  • AWS
  • Google Cloud
  • On-premises
  • Cloud support

Only in CircleCI

Nothing recorded that Microsoft Azure API Management does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft Azure API Management

  • API gateway and lifecycle management on Azurenot CircleCI
  • Throttling, keys and policies in front of backend servicesnot CircleCI
  • Developer portal for internal and partner APIsnot CircleCI
  • Hybrid deployments using self-hosted gatewaysnot CircleCI

CircleCI

  • Continuous integration pipelines for application codenot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Parallel test execution across containersnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Docker-based builds with layer cachingnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Deployment pipelines with approval gatesnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Self-hosted runners for private infrastructurenot Microsoft Azure API Management

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Microsoft Azure API Management

  • Prices are not shown on the pricing page itself; every tier renders as a placeholder and routes to the calculator or sales
  • Two parallel generations of tiers, classic and v2, so the choice is which lineage before which size
  • The Developer tier is explicitly not for production
  • Self-hosted gateways and workspace gateways are charged separately from the service

CircleCI

  • The free plan covers 6,000 build minutes and 5 active users a month
  • Active users are billed at $15 each beyond the included five, and an active user is anyone who commits to a project
  • Everything runs on credits, so compute, Docker layer caching at 200 credits a job and IP ranges at 450 credits per GB all draw from the same pool
  • Network and storage overage costs 420 credits per GB
  • Free credits expire monthly with no rollover, and paid credits expire after a year
  • Scale is annual billing only

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Azure API Management

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1M calls/month
    • Community support
  • Developer$50/monthly
    • 10M calls/month
    • Email support
  • Premium$500/monthly
    • Unlimited calls
    • Priority support
    • SLA

CircleCI

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the CircleCI review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Azure API Management if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud.
  • You also want developer portal.
Microsoft Azure API Management review

Choose CircleCI if

  • You want to start without paying.
CircleCI review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Azure API Management or CircleCI better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and CircleCI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Azure API Management or CircleCI?
Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and CircleCI at Free.
Does Microsoft Azure API Management or CircleCI run on more platforms?
Microsoft Azure API Management runs on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud. CircleCI runs on Web.
Can I use Microsoft Azure API Management for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Microsoft Azure API Management best used for?
Microsoft Azure API Management is most often used for api gateway and lifecycle management on azure, throttling, keys and policies in front of backend services, developer portal for internal and partner apis, hybrid deployments using self-hosted gateways. Of those, api gateway and lifecycle management on azure and throttling, keys and policies in front of backend services are not what CircleCI is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Azure API Management do that CircleCI cannot?
Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Policies, Azure services.
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Related pages

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