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Software · head to head

Paw vs Akana

Paw logo

Paw

Software

Full-featured REST client for macOS with powerful scripting and testing

From
$99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Akana logo

Akana

Software

Enterprise API lifecycle management platform

From
$2500/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Paw now distributed as RapidAPI for Mac; the vendor's own page states it is "exclusively built for macOS" and requires macOS 10.15+, with no Windows or Linux client; Akana owned by Perforce and sold within their portfolio rather than independently, and akana.com redirects to perforce.com
  • They diverge on capability: Paw covers REST Client, Akana covers API Lifecycle Management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paw and Akana actually diverge.

Attributes where Paw and Akana differ
AttributePawAkana
Starting price$99/one-time$2500/monthly
PlatformsMacOSCloud, On-premise, Hybrid
Founded20132001

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Paw

  • REST Client
  • Scripting
  • Dynamic Values
  • Slack
  • GitHub
  • Custom extensions
  • MacOS support

Only in Akana

  • API Lifecycle Management
  • API Security
  • Governance Controls
  • OAuth
  • SAML
  • LDAP
  • Active Directory
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

Paw

  • API Developmentnot Akana
  • API Gatewaynot Akana
  • API Testingnot Akana
  • API Documentationnot Akana
  • Microservicesnot Akana

Akana

  • API lifecycle management across REST, SOAP and GraphQLnot Paw
  • Applying OAuth, JWT and SAML policies at the gatewaynot Paw
  • Running the same platform on-premises, in Kubernetes or across cloudsnot Paw
  • Developer portal and API monetisationnot Paw
  • Monitoring API traffic and enforcing quotasnot Paw

Where each one falls short

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

Paw

  • Now distributed as RapidAPI for Mac; the vendor's own page states it is "exclusively built for macOS" and requires macOS 10.15+, with no Windows or Linux client

Akana

  • Owned by Perforce and sold within their portfolio rather than independently, and akana.com redirects to perforce.com
  • Pricing is not published; only a 30 day trial is offered

Pricing, plan by plan

Paw

$99/one-time
  • Standard$99/one-time
    • Full REST client
    • Advanced scripting
    • Extensions
  • Annual License$49/yearly
    • All features
    • Updates
    • Priority support

Akana

$2500/monthly
  • Professional$2500/monthly
    • API Gateway
    • Developer Portal
    • Basic analytics
  • Enterprise$5000/monthly
    • Advanced governance
    • Multi-cloud support
    • Premium support
  • Custom$undefined/monthly
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support
    • SLA guarantee

Which should you pick?

Choose Paw if

  • You need rest client.
  • You work on MacOS.
  • You also want scripting.
Paw review

Choose Akana if

  • You need api lifecycle management.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
  • You also want api security.
Akana review

Questions people ask

Is Paw or Akana better?
Neither clearly leads. Paw starts at $99/one-time and Akana at $2500/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paw or Akana?
Paw starts at $99/one-time and Akana at $2500/monthly.
Does Paw or Akana run on more platforms?
Paw runs on MacOS. Akana runs on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
What is Paw best used for?
Paw is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Akana is typically brought in for.
What can Paw do that Akana cannot?
Paw covers REST Client, Scripting, Dynamic Values, Slack. Akana covers API Lifecycle Management, API Security, Governance Controls, OAuth.
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