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MuleSoft Anypoint vs Kong

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
Kong logo

Kong

Software

Cloud-native API gateway and service connectivity platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kong has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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; Kong the Plus plan includes 1M API requests a month and charges $200 a month for each additional million
  • They diverge on capability: MuleSoft Anypoint covers Integration Flows, Kong covers Authentication & Authorization.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where MuleSoft Anypoint and Kong differ
AttributeMuleSoft AnypointKong
Starting price$2000/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, Hybrid, On-premiseLinux, Docker, Kubernetes
Founded20062010

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 MuleSoft Anypoint

  • Integration Flows
  • Data Transformation
  • 500+ pre-built connectors
  • Custom connectors
  • Webhooks
  • API management
  • Cloud support
  • Hybrid support

Only in Kong

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

Both cover

  • API Gateway

What people use each for

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

MuleSoft Anypoint

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

Kong

  • Running an API gateway in front of internal and public servicesnot MuleSoft Anypoint
  • Publishing and governing APIs through a developer portalnot MuleSoft Anypoint

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Kong

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

Which should you pick?

Choose MuleSoft Anypoint if

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

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

Questions people ask

Is MuleSoft Anypoint or Kong better?
Neither clearly leads. MuleSoft Anypoint starts at $2000/monthly and Kong at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MuleSoft Anypoint or Kong?
Kong has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2000/monthly for MuleSoft Anypoint and Free for Kong.
Does MuleSoft Anypoint or Kong run on more platforms?
MuleSoft Anypoint runs on Cloud, Hybrid, On-premise. Kong runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
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 MuleSoft Anypoint best used for?
MuleSoft Anypoint is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Kong is typically brought in for.
What can MuleSoft Anypoint do that Kong cannot?
MuleSoft Anypoint covers Integration Flows, Data Transformation, 500+ pre-built connectors, Custom connectors. Kong covers Authentication & Authorization, Rate Limiting, Kubernetes, Consul. Both handle API Gateway.
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