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curl vs Akana

curl logo

curl

Software

Command-line tool for transferring data using URLs with wide protocol support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Akana logo

Akana

Software

Enterprise API lifecycle management platform

From
$2500/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only curl has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: curl free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship; Akana owned by Perforce and sold within their portfolio rather than independently, and akana.com redirects to perforce.com
  • They diverge on capability: curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, Akana covers API Lifecycle Management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which curl and Akana actually diverge.

Attributes where curl and Akana differ
AttributecurlAkana
Starting priceFree$2500/monthly
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, MobileCloud, On-premise, Hybrid
Founded19972001

Identical on both: 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 curl

  • HTTP/HTTPS
  • FTP
  • Multiple protocols
  • Universal compatibility
  • Scripting tools
  • Linux support
  • MacOS support
  • Windows support

Only in Akana

  • API Lifecycle Management
  • API Security
  • Governance Controls
  • OAuth
  • SAML
  • LDAP
  • Active Directory
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

curl

  • API Developmentnot Akana
  • API Gatewaynot Akana
  • API Testingnot Akana
  • API Documentationnot Akana
  • Microservicesnot Akana

Akana

  • API lifecycle management across REST, SOAP and GraphQLnot curl
  • Applying OAuth, JWT and SAML policies at the gatewaynot curl
  • Running the same platform on-premises, in Kubernetes or across cloudsnot curl
  • Developer portal and API monetisationnot curl
  • Monitoring API traffic and enforcing quotasnot curl

Where each one falls short

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

curl

  • Free and open source under an MIT/X derivate license, with no commercial pricing tier; funded only by voluntary sponsorship

Akana

  • Owned by Perforce and sold within their portfolio rather than independently, and akana.com redirects to perforce.com
  • Pricing is not published; only a 30 day trial is offered

Pricing, plan by plan

curl

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full curl functionality
    • Community support

Akana

$2500/monthly
  • Professional$2500/monthly
    • API Gateway
    • Developer Portal
    • Basic analytics
  • Enterprise$5000/monthly
    • Advanced governance
    • Multi-cloud support
    • Premium support
  • Custom$undefined/monthly
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support
    • SLA guarantee

Which should you pick?

Choose curl if

  • You need http/https.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile.
  • You also want ftp.
curl review

Choose Akana if

  • You need api lifecycle management.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
  • You also want api security.
Akana review

Questions people ask

Is curl or Akana better?
Neither clearly leads. curl starts at Free and Akana at $2500/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, curl or Akana?
curl has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for curl and $2500/monthly for Akana.
Does curl or Akana run on more platforms?
curl runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile. Akana runs on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
Can I use curl for free?
Yes. curl has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Akana starts at $2500/monthly.
What is curl best used for?
curl is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Akana is typically brought in for.
What can curl do that Akana cannot?
curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, Multiple protocols, Universal compatibility. Akana covers API Lifecycle Management, API Security, Governance Controls, OAuth.
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