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API Management · head to head

Microsoft Azure API Management vs Gravitee

Microsoft Azure API Management logo

Microsoft Azure API Management

API Management

Hybrid, multi-cloud API management service on Azure

From
Free
Rated
-
Gravitee logo

Gravitee

API Management

Open source API management platform for event-native APIs

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; Gravitee the entry paid API management tier is $2,500 a month and includes a single production gateway
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Policies, Gravitee covers Analytics Dashboard.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Microsoft Azure API Management and Gravitee differ
AttributeMicrosoft Azure API ManagementGravitee
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsCloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloudCloud, On-premise, Kubernetes
Founded19752015

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 Microsoft Azure API Management

  • API Policies
  • Azure services
  • AWS
  • Google Cloud
  • On-premises
  • Hybrid support
  • Multi-cloud support

Only in Gravitee

  • Analytics Dashboard
  • Kubernetes
  • Docker
  • Kafka
  • LDAP
  • On-premise support
  • Kubernetes support

Both cover

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • Cloud support

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

Gravitee

  • API gateway and lifecycle managementnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Exposing Kafka event streams as managed APIsnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Protocol mediation between event brokers and clientsnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Self-hosting an open source API gatewaynot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Access control and authentication in front of internal APIsnot 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

Gravitee

  • The entry paid API management tier is $2,500 a month and includes a single production gateway
  • Event management is priced separately, starting at $1,250 a month for the Comet tier
  • Tiers are gated on gateway and broker counts, so scaling horizontally means moving tier rather than paying incrementally
  • Data logging masking and other enterprise features are withheld from the lowest paid tier
  • 24/7 support requires the top Universe tier

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

Gravitee

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • API Gateway
    • Basic analytics
    • Community support
  • Enterprise$1500/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • SLA support
    • SSO integration
  • Custom$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Dedicated support
    • Premium SLA

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Azure API Management if

  • You need api policies.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud.
  • You also want azure services.

Choose Gravitee if

  • You need analytics dashboard.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Kubernetes.
  • You also want kubernetes.

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Azure API Management or Gravitee better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and Gravitee 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 Gravitee?
Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and Gravitee at Free.
Does Microsoft Azure API Management or Gravitee run on more platforms?
Microsoft Azure API Management runs on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud. Gravitee runs on Cloud, On-premise, Kubernetes.
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 Gravitee is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Azure API Management do that Gravitee cannot?
Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Policies, Azure services, AWS, Google Cloud. Gravitee covers Analytics Dashboard, Kubernetes, Docker, Kafka. Both handle API Gateway, Developer Portal, Cloud support.

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