Softwr

APIs · head to head

Kong vs Workato

Kong logo

Kong

APIs

Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Workato logo

Workato

Automation Integration

The enterprise integration platform

From
$99/month
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; Workato the pricing page names four product lines, Enterprise iPaaS, Agentic solutions, API Management and Data Orchestration, and publishes no figure for any of them, gating all of it behind Schedule a demo
  • They diverge on capability: Kong covers API Gateway, Workato covers Process orchestration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kong and Workato actually diverge.

Attributes where Kong and Workato differ
AttributeKongWorkato
Starting priceFree$99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesWeb, On-premise
CategoryAPIsAutomation Integration
Founded20102014

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

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

Only in Workato

  • Process orchestration
  • Master data management
  • Integration templates
  • Real-time sync
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • API management
  • Workflow analytics

What people use each for

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

Kong

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

Workato

  • Workflow Automationnot Kong
  • Data Integrationnot Kong
  • Process Automationnot Kong
  • App Integrationnot Kong
  • API Connectivitynot 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

Workato

  • The pricing page names four product lines, Enterprise iPaaS, Agentic solutions, API Management and Data Orchestration, and publishes no figure for any of them, gating all of it behind Schedule a demo

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

Workato

$99/month
  • Starter$99/month
    • Up to 50 recipes
    • Basic integrations
    • Email support
  • Professional$299/month
    • Unlimited recipes
    • Premium integrations
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$999/month
    • Custom SLA
    • Dedicated support
    • Advanced security

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 Workato if

  • You need process orchestration.
  • You work on Web, On-premise.
  • You also want master data management.
Workato review

Questions people ask

Is Kong or Workato better?
Neither clearly leads. Kong starts at Free and Workato at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kong or Workato?
Kong has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kong and $99/month for Workato.
Does Kong or Workato run on more platforms?
Kong runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. Workato runs on Web, On-premise.
Can I use Kong for free?
Yes. Kong has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Workato starts at $99/month.
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 Workato is typically brought in for.
What can Kong do that Workato cannot?
Kong covers API Gateway, Authentication & Authorization, Rate Limiting, Kubernetes. Workato covers Process orchestration, Master data management, Integration templates, Real-time sync.

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
Workato: How is Workato pricing structured?

Workato states their pricing is built for flexibility and designed to support organizations of all sizes and needs. However, specific tier costs, feature inclusions, and contract terms are not published on their website.

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
Workato: Can I see Workato's pricing without talking to sales?

No. Workato requires interested buyers to either request a demo, request a trial, or contact their sales team directly to discuss pricing.

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
Workato: Does Workato have a Predictable Pricing Commitment?

Yes, Workato mentions a Predictable Pricing Commitment, but the details are not visible on the main pricing page. You would need to contact them or visit the linked resource for details.

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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