Softwr

APIs · head to head

Kong vs MuleSoft

Kong logo

Kong

APIs

Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MuleSoft logo

MuleSoft

Automation Integration

Integration platform as a service (iPaaS) with robust API management

From
$1500/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kong has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kong the Plus plan includes 1M API requests a month and charges $200 a month for each additional million; MuleSoft pricing for MuleSoft solutions not published on vendor website; enterprise integration platform requires custom quote
  • They diverge on capability: Kong covers Authentication & Authorization, MuleSoft covers API Design.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kong and MuleSoft actually diverge.

Attributes where Kong and MuleSoft differ
AttributeKongMuleSoft
Starting priceFree$1500/monthly
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesCloud, On-premises, Hybrid
CategoryAPIsAutomation Integration
Founded20101999

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 MuleSoft

  • API Design
  • Integration Platform
  • Salesforce
  • SAP
  • Oracle
  • AWS
  • ServiceNow
  • Cloud support

Both cover

  • API Gateway

What people use each for

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

Kong

  • API gateway management and routingnot MuleSoft
  • API development and testingnot MuleSoft
  • Enterprise API security and governancenot MuleSoft

MuleSoft

  • AI agent orchestration and governance across multiple LLM platformsnot Kong
  • API management and gateway control from development through productionnot Kong
  • Integration middleware for legacy systems and cloud applicationsnot Kong
  • Multi-agent ecosystem discovery and centralized agent registrynot Kong
  • Compliance and security monitoring across API, agent, and data interactionsnot 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

MuleSoft

  • Pricing for MuleSoft solutions not published on vendor website; enterprise integration platform requires custom quote

Pricing, plan by plan

Kong

Free
  • Kong Konnect Free TrialFree
    • 30-day free trial
    • Full enterprise functionality
    • Unlimited gateways
  • Kong Konnect Plus$null/month
    • Per gateway pricing billed monthly
    • Up to 5 Serverless Gateways, 2 Hybrid, 2 Dedicated Cloud Gateways
    • 1M API requests included per month
  • Kong Insomnia EssentialsFree
    • Unlimited projects and CLI access
    • Up to 3 Git Sync users
    • 1,000 mock server requests per month
  • Kong Insomnia Pro$12/month
    • Unlimited users with Git Sync access
    • Unlimited organizations
    • RBAC

MuleSoft

$1500/monthly
  • Starter$1500/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Design center
    • Basic integration
  • Professional$3500/monthly
    • Advanced integration
    • Analytics
    • Team collaboration
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Full Anypoint platform
    • Custom SLA
    • Advanced security

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 MuleSoft if

  • You need api design.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want integration platform.
MuleSoft review

Questions people ask

Is Kong or MuleSoft better?
Neither clearly leads. Kong starts at Free and MuleSoft at $1500/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kong or MuleSoft?
Kong has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kong and $1500/monthly for MuleSoft.
Does Kong or MuleSoft run on more platforms?
Kong runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. MuleSoft runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
Can I use Kong for free?
Yes. Kong has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MuleSoft starts at $1500/monthly.
What is Kong best used for?
Kong is most often used for api gateway management and routing, api development and testing, enterprise api security and governance. Of those, api gateway management and routing and api development and testing are not what MuleSoft is typically brought in for.
What can Kong do that MuleSoft cannot?
Kong covers Authentication & Authorization, Rate Limiting, Kubernetes, Consul. MuleSoft covers API Design, Integration Platform, Salesforce, SAP. Both handle API Gateway.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kong: Does Kong offer a free trial?

Yes, Kong Konnect offers a 30-day free trial with full enterprise functionality, unlimited gateways, and no credit card required.

Source
MuleSoft: What does MuleSoft cost?

MuleSoft does not publish pricing on its website. The vendor markets its Anypoint Platform to enterprises with custom licensing quotes.

Source
Kong: How much does Kong Insomnia Pro cost?

Kong Insomnia Pro is $12 per user per month with 15% savings available for annual billing.

Source
MuleSoft: How much does the MuleSoft Anypoint Platform cost per user?

MuleSoft does not disclose per-user, per-month, or per-API pricing on its website. Licensing models vary by customer requirements and deployment size.

Source
Kong: What are Kong Konnect Plus API request limits?

Kong Konnect Plus includes 1M API requests per month; additional requests cost $200 per 1M (maximum 10M per month).

Source
MuleSoft: Does MuleSoft offer a free trial?

MuleSoft encourages users to watch demos or contact sales to explore the platform. No free trial offer is mentioned on the website.

Source
Kong: What is included in Kong Insomnia Enterprise?

Kong Insomnia Enterprise is $45 per user per month with SSO, SCIM, vault integrations, unlimited mock server requests, and Konnect integration.

Source
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