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APIs · head to head

Kong vs MuleSoft Anypoint

Kong logo

Kong

APIs

Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MuleSoft Anypoint logo

MuleSoft Anypoint

APIs

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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

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
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesCloud, Hybrid, On-premise
Founded20102006

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

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

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

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 Anypoint: How much does MuleSoft Anypoint Platform cost?

MuleSoft does not publish pricing on its main website. The vendor offers a free 30-day trial of Anypoint Platform without requiring a credit card. Custom pricing is available through direct sales contact based on implementation scope and usage.

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 Anypoint: What is included in MuleSoft's free trial?

MuleSoft Anypoint Platform provides a free 30-day trial with no credit card required. The trial includes full access to the platform for building APIs, integrations, and automations. Customers can request a call to discuss migration from legacy systems.

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 Anypoint: What professional services are available with MuleSoft?

MuleSoft offers professional services including tailored consulting guidance based on customer learnings, partner support through 300+ solution providers, and training courses with certifications. Strategic recommendations and priority support are available for certain tiers.

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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