Softwr

API Management · head to head

Spring Cloud Gateway vs Stoplight

Spring Cloud Gateway logo

Spring Cloud Gateway

API Management

API gateway built on Project Reactor for building microservices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stoplight logo

Stoplight

API Management

API design, documentation, and governance platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Spring Cloud Gateway released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier; Stoplight the free plan allows one project and one user
  • They diverge on capability: Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Stoplight covers API Design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Spring Cloud Gateway and Stoplight actually diverge.

Attributes where Spring Cloud Gateway and Stoplight differ
AttributeSpring Cloud GatewayStoplight
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsJava, Spring BootWeb, Cloud
Founded19982014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Spring Cloud Gateway

  • Routing
  • Path Rewriting
  • Circuit Breaker
  • Spring Boot
  • Spring Security
  • Spring Cloud
  • Java support
  • Spring Boot support

Only in Stoplight

  • API Design
  • API Documentation
  • Governance
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Jenkins
  • Azure DevOps
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Spring Cloud Gateway

  • API Developmentnot Stoplight
  • API Gatewaynot Stoplight
  • API Testingnot Stoplight
  • API Documentationnot Stoplight
  • Microservicesnot Stoplight

Stoplight

  • Designing and documenting OpenAPI specifications visuallynot Spring Cloud Gateway
  • Serving interactive API docs and instant mock servers from a specnot Spring Cloud Gateway

Where each one falls short

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

Spring Cloud Gateway

  • Released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier

Stoplight

  • The free plan allows one project and one user
  • Private projects, multi branch support and custom domains start at the Startup plan, $113 a month billed annually
  • SSO and shared style guides are Pro Team only, at $362 a month billed annually
  • Seats beyond each plan's allowance are $11 to $27 each per month depending on tier and billing period

Pricing, plan by plan

Spring Cloud Gateway

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Core Spring Cloud Gateway
    • Community support

Stoplight

Free
  • FreeFree
    • API design
    • Documentation
    • Community support
  • Pro$75/monthly
    • Governance
    • Advanced testing
    • Team collaboration
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • SLA
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Spring Cloud Gateway if

  • You need routing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Java, Spring Boot.
  • You also want path rewriting.
Spring Cloud Gateway review

Choose Stoplight if

  • You need api design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want api documentation.
Stoplight review

Questions people ask

Is Spring Cloud Gateway or Stoplight better?
Neither clearly leads. Spring Cloud Gateway starts at Free and Stoplight at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Spring Cloud Gateway or Stoplight?
Spring Cloud Gateway starts at Free and Stoplight at Free.
Does Spring Cloud Gateway or Stoplight run on more platforms?
Spring Cloud Gateway runs on Java, Spring Boot. Stoplight runs on Web, Cloud.
Can I use Spring Cloud Gateway for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Spring Cloud Gateway best used for?
Spring Cloud Gateway is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Stoplight is typically brought in for.
What can Spring Cloud Gateway do that Stoplight cannot?
Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Path Rewriting, Circuit Breaker, Spring Boot. Stoplight covers API Design, API Documentation, Governance, GitHub.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Spring Cloud Gateway

More on Stoplight

Keep looking

Other head to heads