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API Management · head to head

Paw vs WSO2 API Manager

Paw logo

Paw

API Management

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

From
$99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WSO2 API Manager logo

WSO2 API Manager

API Management

Complete API management platform for designing and managing APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only WSO2 API Manager has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; WSO2 API Manager the free open source distribution does not include a subscription to the WSO2 Update service, so continuous improvements and security patches require a paid subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Paw covers REST Client, WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paw and WSO2 API Manager actually diverge.

Attributes where Paw and WSO2 API Manager differ
AttributePawWSO2 API Manager
Starting price$99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMacOSJava, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes
Founded20132005

Identical on both: 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 Paw

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

Only in WSO2 API Manager

  • API Gateway
  • API Designer
  • Developer Portal
  • LDAP
  • Okta
  • Keycloak
  • Microservices
  • Java support

What people use each for

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

Paw

  • API Developmentnot WSO2 API Manager
  • API Gatewaynot WSO2 API Manager
  • API Testingnot WSO2 API Manager
  • API Documentationnot WSO2 API Manager
  • Microservicesnot WSO2 API Manager

WSO2 API Manager

  • Publishing, securing and rate limiting APIs behind a gatewaynot Paw
  • Running an API developer portal with subscription key managementnot Paw
  • Self hosting an open source API management layer on premisesnot 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

WSO2 API Manager

  • The free open source distribution does not include a subscription to the WSO2 Update service, so continuous improvements and security patches require a paid subscription
  • A commercial production licence is not part of the free download and comes only with a subscription
  • No subscription price is published; Basic Support and Enterprise Support both require contacting sales for a quote
  • 24x7x365 coverage requires Enterprise Support; the general query SLA is one business day
  • A Customer Success Manager is a paid optional add on covering business hours only
  • Consulting services and WSO2 Private Cloud hosting are quoted separately

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

WSO2 API Manager

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Core API management
    • Community support
  • Commercial$undefined/monthly
    • Enterprise features
    • Technical support
    • SLA

Which should you pick?

Choose Paw if

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

Choose WSO2 API Manager if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want api designer.
WSO2 API Manager review

Questions people ask

Is Paw or WSO2 API Manager better?
Neither clearly leads. Paw starts at $99/one-time and WSO2 API Manager at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paw or WSO2 API Manager?
WSO2 API Manager has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/one-time for Paw and Free for WSO2 API Manager.
Does Paw or WSO2 API Manager run on more platforms?
Paw runs on MacOS. WSO2 API Manager runs on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use WSO2 API Manager for free?
Yes. WSO2 API Manager has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paw starts at $99/one-time.
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 WSO2 API Manager is typically brought in for.
What can Paw do that WSO2 API Manager cannot?
Paw covers REST Client, Scripting, Dynamic Values, Slack. WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway, API Designer, Developer Portal, LDAP.
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