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curl vs Kong

curl logo

curl

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kong logo

Kong

Software

Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform

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; Kong the Plus plan includes 1M API requests a month and charges $200 a month for each additional million
  • They diverge on capability: curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, Kong covers API Gateway.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which curl and Kong actually diverge.

Attributes where curl and Kong differ
AttributecurlKong
PlatformsLinux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, MobileLinux, Docker, Kubernetes
Founded19972010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), 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
  • MacOS support
  • Windows support
  • Unix support

Only in Kong

  • API Gateway
  • Authentication & Authorization
  • Rate Limiting
  • Kubernetes
  • Consul
  • Eureka
  • PostgreSQL
  • Docker support

Both cover

  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

curl

  • API Developmentnot Kong
  • API Gatewaynot Kong
  • API Testingnot Kong
  • API Documentationnot Kong
  • Microservicesnot Kong

Kong

  • Running an API gateway in front of internal and public servicesnot curl
  • Publishing and governing APIs through a developer portalnot 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

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

curl

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full curl functionality
    • Community support

Kong

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Core API gateway
    • Community support
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support
    • SLA

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 Kong if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want authentication & authorization.
Kong review

Questions people ask

Is curl or Kong better?
Neither clearly leads. curl 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, curl or Kong?
curl starts at Free and Kong at Free.
Does curl or Kong run on more platforms?
curl runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Unix, Mobile. Kong runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
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 Kong is typically brought in for.
What can curl do that Kong cannot?
curl covers HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, Multiple protocols, Universal compatibility. Kong covers API Gateway, Authentication & Authorization, Rate Limiting, Kubernetes. Both handle Linux support.
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