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API Management · head to head

Spring Cloud Gateway vs Swagger/OpenAPI

Spring Cloud Gateway logo

Spring Cloud Gateway

API Management

API gateway built on Project Reactor for building microservices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Swagger/OpenAPI

API Management

API specification and documentation framework using OpenAPI standard

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; Swagger/OpenAPI the OpenAPI Specification itself is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and free to use; SwaggerHub is a separate paid tool built on top of it
  • They diverge on capability: Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Swagger/OpenAPI covers OpenAPI Specification.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Spring Cloud Gateway and Swagger/OpenAPI actually diverge.

Attributes where Spring Cloud Gateway and Swagger/OpenAPI differ
AttributeSpring Cloud GatewaySwagger/OpenAPI
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsJava, Spring BootWeb, CLI, Desktop
Founded19982001

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 Swagger/OpenAPI

  • OpenAPI Specification
  • Interactive Documentation
  • Code Generation
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Jenkins
  • IDE plugins
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Spring Cloud Gateway

  • API Development
  • API Gateway
  • API Testing
  • API Documentation
  • Microservices

Swagger/OpenAPI

  • API Development
  • API Gateway
  • API Testing
  • API Documentation
  • Microservices

Both are used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation, microservices, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Swagger/OpenAPI

  • The OpenAPI Specification itself is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and free to use; SwaggerHub is a separate paid tool built on top of it

Pricing, plan by plan

Spring Cloud Gateway

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

Swagger/OpenAPI

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • OpenAPI specification
    • Community tools
  • SwaggerHub FreeFree
    • Cloud editor
    • API mocking
    • API testing
  • SwaggerHub Pro$75/monthly
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced mocking
    • Analytics

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 Swagger/OpenAPI if

  • You need openapi specification.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, CLI, Desktop.
  • You also want interactive documentation.
Swagger/OpenAPI review

Questions people ask

Is Spring Cloud Gateway or Swagger/OpenAPI better?
Neither clearly leads. Spring Cloud Gateway starts at Free and Swagger/OpenAPI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Spring Cloud Gateway or Swagger/OpenAPI?
Spring Cloud Gateway starts at Free and Swagger/OpenAPI at Free.
Does Spring Cloud Gateway or Swagger/OpenAPI run on more platforms?
Spring Cloud Gateway runs on Java, Spring Boot. Swagger/OpenAPI runs on Web, CLI, Desktop.
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.
What can Spring Cloud Gateway do that Swagger/OpenAPI cannot?
Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Path Rewriting, Circuit Breaker, Spring Boot. Swagger/OpenAPI covers OpenAPI Specification, Interactive Documentation, Code Generation, GitHub.
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