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Software · head to head

Kong vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Kong logo

Kong

Software

Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Azure API Management logo

Microsoft Azure API Management

Software

Hybrid, multi-cloud API management service on Azure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kong the Plus plan includes 1M API requests a month and charges $200 a month for each additional million; Microsoft Azure API Management prices are not shown on the pricing page itself; every tier renders as a placeholder and routes to the calculator or sales
  • They diverge on capability: Kong covers Authentication & Authorization, Microsoft Azure API Management covers Developer Portal.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kong and Microsoft Azure API Management actually diverge.

Attributes where Kong and Microsoft Azure API Management differ
AttributeKongMicrosoft Azure API Management
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesCloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud
Founded20101975

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 Kong

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

Only in Microsoft Azure API Management

  • Developer Portal
  • API Policies
  • Azure services
  • AWS
  • Google Cloud
  • On-premises
  • Cloud support
  • Hybrid support

Both cover

  • API Gateway

What people use each for

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

Kong

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

Microsoft Azure API Management

  • API gateway and lifecycle management on Azurenot Kong
  • Throttling, keys and policies in front of backend servicesnot Kong
  • Developer portal for internal and partner APIsnot Kong
  • Hybrid deployments using self-hosted gatewaysnot Kong

Where each one falls short

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

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

Microsoft Azure API Management

  • Prices are not shown on the pricing page itself; every tier renders as a placeholder and routes to the calculator or sales
  • Two parallel generations of tiers, classic and v2, so the choice is which lineage before which size
  • The Developer tier is explicitly not for production
  • Self-hosted gateways and workspace gateways are charged separately from the service

Pricing, plan by plan

Kong

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

Microsoft Azure API Management

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1M calls/month
    • Community support
  • Developer$50/monthly
    • 10M calls/month
    • Email support
  • Premium$500/monthly
    • Unlimited calls
    • Priority support
    • SLA

Which should you pick?

Choose Kong if

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

Choose Microsoft Azure API Management if

  • You need developer portal.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud.
  • You also want api policies.
Microsoft Azure API Management review

Questions people ask

Is Kong or Microsoft Azure API Management better?
Neither clearly leads. Kong starts at Free and Microsoft Azure API Management at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kong or Microsoft Azure API Management?
Kong starts at Free and Microsoft Azure API Management at Free.
Does Kong or Microsoft Azure API Management run on more platforms?
Kong runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. Microsoft Azure API Management runs on Cloud, Hybrid, Multi-cloud.
Can I use Kong for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kong best used for?
Kong is most often used for running an api gateway in front of internal and public services, publishing and governing apis through a developer portal. Of those, running an api gateway in front of internal and public services and publishing and governing apis through a developer portal are not what Microsoft Azure API Management is typically brought in for.
What can Kong do that Microsoft Azure API Management cannot?
Kong covers Authentication & Authorization, Rate Limiting, Kubernetes, Consul. Microsoft Azure API Management covers Developer Portal, API Policies, Azure services, AWS. Both handle API Gateway.
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