Software · head to head
Microsoft Azure API Management vs Kong
Microsoft Azure API Management
Software
Hybrid, multi-cloud API management service on Azure
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Kong
Software
Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform
- 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; Kong the Plus plan includes 1M API requests a month and charges $200 a month for each additional million
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Azure API Management covers Developer Portal, Kong covers Authentication & Authorization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Azure API Management and Kong actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Azure API Management | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | open-source |
| Platforms | Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud | Linux, Docker, Kubernetes |
| Founded | 1975 | 2010 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Microsoft Azure API Management
- Developer Portal
- API Policies
- Azure services
- AWS
- Google Cloud
- On-premises
- Cloud support
- Hybrid support
Only in Kong
- Authentication & Authorization
- Rate Limiting
- Kubernetes
- Consul
- Eureka
- PostgreSQL
- Linux support
- Docker support
Both cover
- API Gateway
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 Kong
- Throttling, keys and policies in front of backend servicesnot Kong
- Developer portal for internal and partner APIsnot Kong
- Hybrid deployments using self-hosted gatewaysnot Kong
Kong
- Running an API gateway in front of internal and public servicesnot Microsoft Azure API Management
- Publishing and governing APIs through a developer portalnot 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
Kong
- The Plus plan includes 1M API requests a month and charges $200 a month for each additional million
- Plus is capped at 10M requests a month, so growth past that forces an Enterprise contract
- Plus limits published APIs to 20 and includes one Developer Portal, with a second at $200 a month
- SSO and audit logging are Enterprise only
- Enterprise pricing is custom and billed annually
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Azure API Management
Free- FreeFree
- 1M calls/month
- Community support
- Developer$50/monthly
- 10M calls/month
- Email support
- Premium$500/monthly
- Unlimited calls
- Priority support
- SLA
Kong
Free- CommunityFree
- Core API gateway
- Community support
- Enterprise$undefined/monthly
- Advanced features
- Priority support
- SLA
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Azure API Management if
- You need developer portal.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud.
- You also want api policies.
Choose Kong if
- You need authentication & authorization.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
- You also want rate limiting.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Azure API Management or Kong better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and Kong 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 Kong?
- Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and Kong at Free.
- Does Microsoft Azure API Management or Kong run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Azure API Management runs on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud. Kong runs on Linux, Docker, 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 Kong is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Azure API Management do that Kong cannot?
- Microsoft Azure API Management covers Developer Portal, API Policies, Azure services, AWS. Kong covers Authentication & Authorization, Rate Limiting, Kubernetes, Consul. Both handle API Gateway.