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Software · head to head

Spring Cloud Gateway vs WSO2 API Manager

Spring Cloud Gateway logo

Spring Cloud Gateway

Software

API gateway built on Project Reactor for building microservices

From
Free
Rated
-
WSO2 API Manager logo

WSO2 API Manager

Software

Complete API management platform for designing and managing APIs

From
Free
Rated
-

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; 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: Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Spring Cloud Gateway and WSO2 API Manager actually diverge.

Attributes where Spring Cloud Gateway and WSO2 API Manager differ
AttributeSpring Cloud GatewayWSO2 API Manager
PlatformsJava, Spring BootJava, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes
Founded19982005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), 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 Spring Cloud Gateway

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

Only in WSO2 API Manager

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

Both cover

  • Java support

What people use each for

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

Spring Cloud Gateway

  • 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 Spring Cloud Gateway
  • Running an API developer portal with subscription key managementnot Spring Cloud Gateway
  • Self hosting an open source API management layer on premisesnot 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

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

Spring Cloud Gateway

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

WSO2 API Manager

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

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.

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.

Questions people ask

Is Spring Cloud Gateway or WSO2 API Manager better?
Neither clearly leads. Spring Cloud Gateway starts at Free and WSO2 API Manager at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Spring Cloud Gateway or WSO2 API Manager?
Spring Cloud Gateway starts at Free and WSO2 API Manager at Free.
Does Spring Cloud Gateway or WSO2 API Manager run on more platforms?
Spring Cloud Gateway runs on Java, Spring Boot. WSO2 API Manager runs on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
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 WSO2 API Manager is typically brought in for.
What can Spring Cloud Gateway do that WSO2 API Manager cannot?
Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Path Rewriting, Circuit Breaker, Spring Boot. WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway, API Designer, Developer Portal, LDAP. Both handle Java support.

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