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KeystoneJS vs Apigee

KeystoneJS logo

KeystoneJS

Software

Powerful Node.js headless CMS framework and API platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Apigee logo

Apigee

Software

API management platform for designing, securing, and scaling APIs

From
$500/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only KeystoneJS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: KeystoneJS database support is limited to PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite; Apigee the free evaluation is a sandbox limited to 60 days
  • They diverge on capability: KeystoneJS covers REST API, Apigee covers API Gateway.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KeystoneJS and Apigee actually diverge.

Attributes where KeystoneJS and Apigee differ
AttributeKeystoneJSApigee
Starting priceFree$500/monthly
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsNode.js, Self-hostedCloud, Hybrid, On-premises
Founded20162006

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 KeystoneJS

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • Admin interface
  • Node.js
  • Next.js
  • React
  • Databases
  • Node.js support

Only in Apigee

  • API Gateway
  • API Analytics
  • Developer Portal
  • Google Cloud services
  • Azure
  • AWS
  • Okta
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

KeystoneJS

  • Building a headless CMS with a GraphQL API from a TypeScript schemanot Apigee
  • Generating a configurable Admin UI for editorsnot Apigee
  • Adding structured rich text content with the document fieldnot Apigee

Apigee

  • Publishing, securing and versioning APIs for an enterprise API programnot KeystoneJS
  • Monetizing APIs and running a developer portalnot KeystoneJS
  • Analyzing API traffic and defending APIs against bots and abusenot KeystoneJS

Where each one falls short

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

KeystoneJS

  • Database support is limited to PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite
  • Keystone 5 is a separate legacy product documented on a different site and is not covered by the Keystone 6 docs
  • Upgrading requires following a dedicated Migrate to 8.0.0 guide, so major versions are not drop-in
  • Free support is a community Slack; enterprise-grade consulting and support is a separate paid engagement with Thinkmill and no published price

Apigee

  • The free evaluation is a sandbox limited to 60 days
  • Pay-as-you-go has no SLA available at all
  • Pay-as-you-go bills environments separately from API calls, with a Base environment costing $365 per month per region
  • The Base environment is capped at 50 QPS with an SLA of up to 99%
  • Standard API Proxy calls are billed at $20 per 1M calls up to 50M, and Extensible API Proxy calls at $100 per 1M calls up to 50M
  • API Analytics is a paid add-on at $20 per 1M API calls and cannot be bought on a Base environment
  • Advanced API Security is a paid add-on at $350 per 1M API calls and cannot be bought on a Base environment
  • Monetization is unavailable on pay-as-you-go and requires a subscription tier
  • Additional API proxy deployments beyond those included cost $0.04 per hour per region on a Comprehensive environment
  • Subscription tiers Standard, Enterprise and Enterprise Plus are quote only with no published price
  • Google Cloud networking charges for IP addresses, data transfer out and forwarding rules are billed on top of Apigee usage

Pricing, plan by plan

KeystoneJS

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full KeystoneJS
    • Community support

Apigee

$500/monthly
  • Starter$500/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Analytics
    • Developer portal
  • Professional$2500/monthly
    • Advanced security
    • Traffic management
    • Monetization
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • SLA
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose KeystoneJS if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, Self-hosted.
  • You also want graphql api.
KeystoneJS review

Choose Apigee if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, Hybrid, On-premises.
  • You also want api analytics.
Apigee review

Questions people ask

Is KeystoneJS or Apigee better?
Neither clearly leads. KeystoneJS starts at Free and Apigee at $500/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KeystoneJS or Apigee?
KeystoneJS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for KeystoneJS and $500/monthly for Apigee.
Does KeystoneJS or Apigee run on more platforms?
KeystoneJS runs on Node.js, Self-hosted. Apigee runs on Cloud, Hybrid, On-premises.
Can I use KeystoneJS for free?
Yes. KeystoneJS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Apigee starts at $500/monthly.
What is KeystoneJS best used for?
KeystoneJS is most often used for building a headless cms with a graphql api from a typescript schema, generating a configurable admin ui for editors, adding structured rich text content with the document field. Of those, building a headless cms with a graphql api from a typescript schema and generating a configurable admin ui for editors are not what Apigee is typically brought in for.
What can KeystoneJS do that Apigee cannot?
KeystoneJS covers REST API, GraphQL API, Admin interface, Node.js. Apigee covers API Gateway, API Analytics, Developer Portal, Google Cloud services.
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