Softwr

Software · head to head

Stoplight vs AWS API Gateway

Stoplight logo

Stoplight

Software

API design, documentation, and governance platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

Software

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Stoplight the free plan allows one project and one user; AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • They diverge on capability: Stoplight covers API Design, AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stoplight and AWS API Gateway actually diverge.

Attributes where Stoplight and AWS API Gateway differ
AttributeStoplightAWS API Gateway
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
PlatformsWeb, CloudAWS Cloud
Founded20142006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Stoplight

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

Only in AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs
  • WebSocket APIs
  • HTTP APIs
  • Lambda
  • EC2
  • DynamoDB
  • CloudWatch
  • IAM

What people use each for

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

Stoplight

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

AWS API Gateway

  • Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot Stoplight
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot Stoplight
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot Stoplight
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot Stoplight
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot Stoplight

Where each one falls short

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

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

AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
  • WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
  • Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
  • The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
  • The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing

Pricing, plan by plan

Stoplight

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

AWS API Gateway

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M requests per month
    • Basic API management
  • Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
    • Unlimited requests
    • HTTP APIs
    • REST APIs

Which should you pick?

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

Choose AWS API Gateway if

  • You need rest apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS Cloud.
  • You also want websocket apis.
AWS API Gateway review

Questions people ask

Is Stoplight or AWS API Gateway better?
Neither clearly leads. Stoplight starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Stoplight or AWS API Gateway?
Stoplight starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free.
Does Stoplight or AWS API Gateway run on more platforms?
Stoplight runs on Web, Cloud. AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud.
Can I use Stoplight for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Stoplight best used for?
Stoplight is most often used for designing and documenting openapi specifications visually, serving interactive api docs and instant mock servers from a spec. Of those, designing and documenting openapi specifications visually and serving interactive api docs and instant mock servers from a spec are not what AWS API Gateway is typically brought in for.
What can Stoplight do that AWS API Gateway cannot?
Stoplight covers API Design, API Documentation, Governance, GitHub. AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda.
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