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API Management · head to head

Microsoft Azure API Management vs Customerly

Microsoft Azure API Management logo

Microsoft Azure API Management

API Management

Hybrid, multi-cloud API management service on Azure

From
Free
Rated
-
Customerly logo

Customerly

Customer Support

Customer service suite with live chat and automation

From
Free
Rated
-

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; Customerly usage-based pricing of 0.50 EUR per conversation can become expensive at scale
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Gateway, Customerly covers Live chat.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Microsoft Azure API Management and Customerly differ
AttributeMicrosoft Azure API ManagementCustomerly
PlatformsCloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloudWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryAPI ManagementCustomer Support
Founded19752015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), 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 Customerly

  • Live chat
  • Email marketing
  • Customer surveys
  • Help center
  • Automation
  • Video chat
  • Slack
  • WordPress

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 Customerly
  • Throttling, keys and policies in front of backend servicesnot Customerly
  • Developer portal for internal and partner APIsnot Customerly
  • Hybrid deployments using self-hosted gatewaysnot Customerly

Customerly

  • Customer supportnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Lead generationnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Email marketingnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Customer feedbacknot 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

Customerly

  • Usage-based pricing of 0.50 EUR per conversation can become expensive at scale
  • Limited to 11-50 employees according to company size metrics

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

Customerly

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 teammates
    • Live chat
    • Basic surveys
  • Essential$9/month
    • Unlimited chat
    • Help center
    • Automation
  • Startup$29/month
    • Video chat
    • Funnels
    • Priority support
  • Pro$79/month
    • White label
    • Advanced analytics
    • API access

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.

Choose Customerly if

  • You need live chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want email marketing.

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Azure API Management or Customerly better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and Customerly 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 Customerly?
Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and Customerly at Free.
Does Microsoft Azure API Management or Customerly run on more platforms?
Microsoft Azure API Management runs on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud. Customerly runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Customerly is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Azure API Management do that Customerly cannot?
Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Policies, Azure services. Customerly covers Live chat, Email marketing, Customer surveys, Help center.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Customerly: Where is Customerly's data stored?

All data is stored exclusively in the EU, providing GDPR compliance and data residency in European servers.

Source
Customerly: What messaging channels does Customerly support?

Customerly integrates live chat, email, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and mobile apps into a single unified inbox for managing customer conversations.

Source
Customerly: How much of customer support can Customerly automate?

Customerly's AI assistant (Aura) handles up to 60 percent of customer conversations automatically, with the platform designed to handle 71 percent of support volume through automation.

Source

Related pages

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