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API Management · head to head

Kong vs PocketBase

Kong logo

Kong

API Management

Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PocketBase logo

PocketBase

API Management

Open-source backend with REST API, real-time subscriptions and Admin UI

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; PocketBase not recommended for production critical applications until reaching v1.0.0
  • They diverge on capability: Kong covers API Gateway, PocketBase covers REST API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kong and PocketBase actually diverge.

Attributes where Kong and PocketBase differ
AttributeKongPocketBase
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
Founded20102021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).

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

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

Only in PocketBase

  • REST API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • Webhooks
  • File storage
  • Go support
  • Self-hosted support

Both cover

  • Docker support

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 PocketBase
  • Publishing and governing APIs through a developer portalnot PocketBase

PocketBase

  • Embedded realtime database with REST APInot Kong
  • Backend-as-a-service for single-file deploymentsnot Kong
  • Rapid application development with email/OAuth2 authenticationnot Kong
  • File storage and media attachment managementnot Kong
  • Lightweight alternative to Firebase or traditional backend infrastructurenot Kong
  • Go and JavaScript customisable application frameworknot 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

PocketBase

  • Not recommended for production critical applications until reaching v1.0.0
  • Full backward compatibility not guaranteed before v1.0.0 (breaking changes possible with version updates)
  • Pull requests for new features are disabled due to spam concerns (feature contributions limited)

Pricing, plan by plan

Kong

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

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Kong if

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

Choose PocketBase if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
PocketBase review

Questions people ask

Is Kong or PocketBase better?
Neither clearly leads. Kong starts at Free and PocketBase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kong or PocketBase?
Kong starts at Free and PocketBase at Free.
Does Kong or PocketBase run on more platforms?
Kong runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
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 PocketBase is typically brought in for.
What can Kong do that PocketBase cannot?
Kong covers API Gateway, Authentication & Authorization, Rate Limiting, Kubernetes. PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite. Both handle Docker support.
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