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Testing & QA · head to head

CircleCI vs WSO2 API Manager

CircleCI logo

CircleCI

Testing & QA

The leading CI/CD platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WSO2 API Manager logo

WSO2 API Manager

API Management

Complete API management platform for designing and managing APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CircleCI the free plan covers 6,000 build minutes and 5 active users a month; 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

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CircleCI and WSO2 API Manager actually diverge.

Attributes where CircleCI and WSO2 API Manager differ
AttributeCircleCIWSO2 API Manager
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWebJava, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes
CategoryTesting & QAAPI Management
Founded20112005

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 CircleCI

Nothing recorded that WSO2 API Manager does not also cover.

Only in WSO2 API Manager

  • API Gateway
  • API Designer
  • Developer Portal
  • LDAP
  • Okta
  • Keycloak
  • Microservices
  • Java support

What people use each for

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

CircleCI

  • Continuous integration pipelines for application codenot WSO2 API Manager
  • Parallel test execution across containersnot WSO2 API Manager
  • Docker-based builds with layer cachingnot WSO2 API Manager
  • Deployment pipelines with approval gatesnot WSO2 API Manager
  • Self-hosted runners for private infrastructurenot WSO2 API Manager

WSO2 API Manager

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

CircleCI

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the CircleCI review.

WSO2 API Manager

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Core API management
    • Community support
  • Commercial$undefined/monthly
    • Enterprise features
    • Technical support
    • SLA

Which should you pick?

Choose CircleCI if

  • You want to start without paying.
CircleCI review

Choose WSO2 API Manager if

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

Questions people ask

Is CircleCI or WSO2 API Manager better?
Neither clearly leads. CircleCI 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, CircleCI or WSO2 API Manager?
CircleCI starts at Free and WSO2 API Manager at Free.
Does CircleCI or WSO2 API Manager run on more platforms?
CircleCI runs on Web. WSO2 API Manager runs on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use CircleCI for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is CircleCI best used for?
CircleCI is most often used for continuous integration pipelines for application code, parallel test execution across containers, docker-based builds with layer caching, deployment pipelines with approval gates. Of those, continuous integration pipelines for application code and parallel test execution across containers are not what WSO2 API Manager is typically brought in for.
What can CircleCI do that WSO2 API Manager cannot?
WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway, API Designer, Developer Portal, LDAP.
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