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Software · head to head

curl vs AWS API Gateway

curl logo

curl

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

Software

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • They diverge on capability: curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which curl and AWS API Gateway actually diverge.

Attributes where curl and AWS API Gateway differ
AttributecurlAWS API Gateway
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
PlatformsLinux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, MobileAWS Cloud
Founded19972006

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 curl

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

Only in AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs
  • WebSocket APIs
  • HTTP APIs
  • Lambda
  • EC2
  • DynamoDB
  • CloudWatch
  • IAM

What people use each for

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

curl

  • API Developmentnot AWS API Gateway
  • API Gatewaynot AWS API Gateway
  • API Testingnot AWS API Gateway
  • API Documentationnot AWS API Gateway
  • Microservicesnot AWS API Gateway

AWS API Gateway

  • Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot curl
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot curl
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot curl
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot curl
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot 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

AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
  • WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
  • Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
  • The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
  • The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing

Pricing, plan by plan

curl

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full curl functionality
    • Community support

AWS API Gateway

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M requests per month
    • Basic API management
  • Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
    • Unlimited requests
    • HTTP APIs
    • REST APIs

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 AWS API Gateway if

  • You need rest apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS Cloud.
  • You also want websocket apis.
AWS API Gateway review

Questions people ask

Is curl or AWS API Gateway better?
Neither clearly leads. curl starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, curl or AWS API Gateway?
curl starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free.
Does curl or AWS API Gateway run on more platforms?
curl runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile. AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud.
Can I use curl for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 AWS API Gateway is typically brought in for.
What can curl do that AWS API Gateway cannot?
curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, Multiple protocols, Universal compatibility. AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda.
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