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Software · head to head

Kong vs MuleSoft Anypoint

Kong logo

Kong

Software

Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MuleSoft Anypoint logo

MuleSoft Anypoint

Software

Integration platform enabling API-led connectivity and end-to-end integration across systems

From
$2000/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 Anypoint listed on UK G-Cloud at £69,200 per unit per year for the MuleSoft Anypoint Platform (Public Sector), via reseller Open Answers Limited
  • They diverge on capability: Kong covers Authentication & Authorization, MuleSoft Anypoint covers Integration Flows.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kong and MuleSoft Anypoint actually diverge.

Attributes where Kong and MuleSoft Anypoint differ
AttributeKongMuleSoft Anypoint
Starting priceFree$2000/monthly
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesCloud, Hybrid, On-premise
Founded20102006

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 Kong

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

Only in MuleSoft Anypoint

  • Integration Flows
  • Data Transformation
  • 500+ pre-built connectors
  • Custom connectors
  • Webhooks
  • API management
  • 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 MuleSoft Anypoint
  • Publishing and governing APIs through a developer portalnot MuleSoft Anypoint

MuleSoft Anypoint

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

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud at £69,200 per unit per year for the MuleSoft Anypoint Platform (Public Sector), via reseller Open Answers Limited

Pricing, plan by plan

Kong

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

MuleSoft Anypoint

$2000/monthly
  • Integration Developer$2000/monthly
    • API design
    • Integration flows
    • Connectors
  • Professional$5000/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support
    • SLA
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support
    • Premium 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 MuleSoft Anypoint if

  • You need integration flows.
  • You work on Cloud, Hybrid, On-premise.
  • You also want data transformation.
MuleSoft Anypoint review

Questions people ask

Is Kong or MuleSoft Anypoint better?
Neither clearly leads. Kong starts at Free and MuleSoft Anypoint at $2000/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kong or MuleSoft Anypoint?
Kong has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kong and $2000/monthly for MuleSoft Anypoint.
Does Kong or MuleSoft Anypoint run on more platforms?
Kong runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. MuleSoft Anypoint runs on Cloud, Hybrid, On-premise.
Can I use Kong for free?
Yes. Kong has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MuleSoft Anypoint starts at $2000/monthly.
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 MuleSoft Anypoint is typically brought in for.
What can Kong do that MuleSoft Anypoint cannot?
Kong covers Authentication & Authorization, Rate Limiting, Kubernetes, Consul. MuleSoft Anypoint covers Integration Flows, Data Transformation, 500+ pre-built connectors, Custom connectors. Both handle API Gateway.
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