Software · head to head
RapidAPI vs Akana

RapidAPI
Software
API marketplace and management platform for discovering and publishing APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only RapidAPI has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: RapidAPI rapidAPI Enterprise Hub minimum seat requirement is 5 seats per the embedded pricing page configuration (SEATS_MINIMUM: 5).; Akana owned by Perforce and sold within their portfolio rather than independently, and akana.com redirects to perforce.com
- They diverge on capability: RapidAPI covers API Marketplace, Akana covers API Lifecycle Management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which RapidAPI and Akana actually diverge.
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 RapidAPI
- API Marketplace
- API Management
- Testing Tools
- Multiple third-party APIs
- Webhooks
- REST APIs
- Web support
- Mobile 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.
RapidAPI
- API Developmentnot Akana
- API Gatewaynot Akana
- API Testingnot Akana
- API Documentationnot Akana
- Microservicesnot Akana
Akana
- API lifecycle management across REST, SOAP and GraphQLnot RapidAPI
- Applying OAuth, JWT and SAML policies at the gatewaynot RapidAPI
- Running the same platform on-premises, in Kubernetes or across cloudsnot RapidAPI
- Developer portal and API monetisationnot RapidAPI
- Monitoring API traffic and enforcing quotasnot RapidAPI
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
RapidAPI
- RapidAPI Enterprise Hub minimum seat requirement is 5 seats per the embedded pricing page configuration (SEATS_MINIMUM: 5).
- RapidAPI places a $0.50 USD temporary credit card authorization hold when subscribing, refunded only if no overage charges occur within 7 days.
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
RapidAPI
Free- FreeFree
- Access to APIs
- Basic management
- Testing tools
- Pro$50/monthly
- Advanced features
- Analytics
- Dedicated support
- Enterprise$undefined/monthly
- Custom solutions
- SLA
- Custom integration
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 RapidAPI if
- You need api marketplace.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile, Desktop.
- You also want api management.
Choose Akana if
- You need api lifecycle management.
- You work on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
- You also want api security.
Questions people ask
- Is RapidAPI or Akana better?
- Neither clearly leads. RapidAPI starts at Free and Akana at $2500/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, RapidAPI or Akana?
- RapidAPI has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for RapidAPI and $2500/monthly for Akana.
- Does RapidAPI or Akana run on more platforms?
- RapidAPI runs on Web, Mobile, Desktop. Akana runs on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
- Can I use RapidAPI for free?
- Yes. RapidAPI has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Akana starts at $2500/monthly.
- What is RapidAPI best used for?
- RapidAPI 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 RapidAPI do that Akana cannot?
- RapidAPI covers API Marketplace, API Management, Testing Tools, Multiple third-party APIs. Akana covers API Lifecycle Management, API Security, Governance Controls, OAuth.

