Softwr

APIs · head to head

Microsoft Azure API Management vs WSO2 API Manager

Microsoft Azure API Management logo

Microsoft Azure API Management

APIs

Hybrid, multi-cloud API management service on Azure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WSO2 API Manager logo

WSO2 API Manager

APIs

Complete API management platform for designing and managing APIs

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; WSO2 API Manager the free open source distribution does not include a subscription to the WSO2 Update service, so continuous improvements and security patches require a paid subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Policies, WSO2 API Manager covers API Designer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Azure API Management and WSO2 API Manager actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Azure API Management and WSO2 API Manager differ
AttributeMicrosoft Azure API ManagementWSO2 API Manager
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
PlatformsCloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloudJava, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes
Founded19752005

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

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
  • Cloud support
  • Hybrid support
  • Multi-cloud support

Only in WSO2 API Manager

  • API Designer
  • LDAP
  • Okta
  • Keycloak
  • Microservices
  • Java support
  • Linux support
  • Docker support

Both cover

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal

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 WSO2 API Manager
  • Throttling, keys and policies in front of backend servicesnot WSO2 API Manager
  • Developer portal for internal and partner APIsnot WSO2 API Manager
  • Hybrid deployments using self-hosted gatewaysnot WSO2 API Manager

WSO2 API Manager

  • Publishing, securing and rate limiting APIs behind a gatewaynot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Running an API developer portal with subscription key managementnot Microsoft Azure API Management
  • Self hosting an open source API management layer on premisesnot 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

WSO2 API Manager

  • The free open source distribution does not include a subscription to the WSO2 Update service, so continuous improvements and security patches require a paid subscription
  • A commercial production licence is not part of the free download and comes only with a subscription
  • No subscription price is published; Basic Support and Enterprise Support both require contacting sales for a quote
  • 24x7x365 coverage requires Enterprise Support; the general query SLA is one business day
  • A Customer Success Manager is a paid optional add on covering business hours only
  • Consulting services and WSO2 Private Cloud hosting are quoted separately

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Azure API Management

Free
  • ConsumptionFree
    • 0-1 million API operations free monthly per subscription
  • Basic v2$undefined/mo
    • 10 million API requests included monthly
  • Standard v2$undefined/mo
    • 50 million API requests included monthly
  • Premium v2$undefined/mo
    • Unlimited included API requests

WSO2 API Manager

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Core API management
    • Community support
  • Commercial$undefined/monthly
    • Enterprise features
    • Technical support
    • 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.
Microsoft Azure API Management review

Choose WSO2 API Manager if

  • You need api designer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want ldap.
WSO2 API Manager review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Azure API Management or WSO2 API Manager better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and WSO2 API Manager 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 WSO2 API Manager?
Microsoft Azure API Management starts at Free and WSO2 API Manager at Free.
Does Microsoft Azure API Management or WSO2 API Manager run on more platforms?
Microsoft Azure API Management runs on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud. WSO2 API Manager runs on Java, 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 WSO2 API Manager is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Azure API Management do that WSO2 API Manager cannot?
Microsoft Azure API Management covers API Policies, Azure services, AWS, Google Cloud. WSO2 API Manager covers API Designer, LDAP, Okta, Keycloak. Both handle API Gateway, Developer Portal.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft Azure API Management: Is Azure API Management free?

Azure API Management offers a Consumption tier with a free tier that includes 0-1 million API operations per subscription monthly at no cost, then charges per operation beyond that. Classic Consumption tier is pay-as-you-go billing.

Source
WSO2 API Manager: How is WSO2 API Manager priced?

WSO2 API Manager pricing is not published on their website. As an enterprise API management platform, pricing is custom-quoted based on deployment model and organizational requirements.

Source
Microsoft Azure API Management: What are the API request limits for Azure API Management's v2 tiers?

Basic v2 includes 10 million API requests monthly, Standard v2 includes 50 million monthly, and Premium v2 includes unlimited API requests. Additional requests beyond included amounts incur standard rates.

Source
WSO2 API Manager: Does WSO2 API Manager offer different pricing for on-premises versus cloud deployments?

WSO2 API Manager supports multiple deployment options including on-premises and cloud, but pricing structures for different deployment models are not publicly disclosed.

Source
Microsoft Azure API Management: What cache capacity does each Azure API Management tier provide?

Basic v2 provides 250 MB built-in cache, Standard v2 provides 1 GB cache, and Premium v2 provides 5 GB cache capacity for response caching.

Source
WSO2 API Manager: What deployment flexibility does WSO2 API Manager provide?

WSO2 API Manager enables flexible deployment on-premises or in cloud environments, but specific pricing tiers for each deployment model require contacting WSO2 sales.

Source
WSO2 API Manager: How would I request a WSO2 API Manager pricing quote?

Organizations can request pricing quotes by contacting WSO2 sales through their website. Custom quotes depend on API volume, deployment model, and feature requirements.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Microsoft Azure API Management

More on WSO2 API Manager

Keep looking

Other head to heads