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WSO2 API Manager vs AWS API Gateway

WSO2 API Manager logo

WSO2 API Manager

Software

Complete API management platform for designing and managing APIs

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: 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; 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: WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway, AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where WSO2 API Manager and AWS API Gateway differ
AttributeWSO2 API ManagerAWS API Gateway
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
PlatformsJava, Linux, Docker, KubernetesAWS Cloud
Founded20052006

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 WSO2 API Manager

  • API Gateway
  • API Designer
  • Developer Portal
  • LDAP
  • Okta
  • Keycloak
  • Microservices
  • Java 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.

WSO2 API Manager

  • Publishing, securing and rate limiting APIs behind a gatewaynot AWS API Gateway
  • Running an API developer portal with subscription key managementnot AWS API Gateway
  • Self hosting an open source API management layer on premisesnot AWS API Gateway

AWS API Gateway

  • Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot WSO2 API Manager
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot WSO2 API Manager
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot WSO2 API Manager
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot WSO2 API Manager
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot WSO2 API Manager

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

WSO2 API Manager

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

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 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.
WSO2 API Manager 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 WSO2 API Manager or AWS API Gateway better?
Neither clearly leads. WSO2 API Manager 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, WSO2 API Manager or AWS API Gateway?
WSO2 API Manager starts at Free and AWS API Gateway at Free.
Does WSO2 API Manager or AWS API Gateway run on more platforms?
WSO2 API Manager runs on Java, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud.
Can I use WSO2 API Manager for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is WSO2 API Manager best used for?
WSO2 API Manager is most often used for publishing, securing and rate limiting apis behind a gateway, running an api developer portal with subscription key management, self hosting an open source api management layer on premises. Of those, publishing, securing and rate limiting apis behind a gateway and running an api developer portal with subscription key management are not what AWS API Gateway is typically brought in for.
What can WSO2 API Manager do that AWS API Gateway cannot?
WSO2 API Manager covers API Gateway, API Designer, Developer Portal, LDAP. AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda.
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