Ranked list · API Gateways · 7 companies
Best API Gateways Software in 2026
Selecting an API gateway involves evaluating protocol support, security controls, and pricing structures that range from per-user fees to consumption-based models. Modern gateways now integrate AI observability and edge-native deployment to handle high-volume traffic across multi-cloud environments. This guide examines leading vendors based on their technical features, integration capabilities, and scalability for developer teams and enterprise operations.
Kong offers comprehensive protocol support and advanced analytics for up to 1M requests, featuring AI observability with token-level tracking and enterprise security controls.
Free tier · paid from $12/user/month
- · Citation data still being collected (5 checks so far) — ranked on product facts only
- · Starting price: $12/user/month
- · Free tier available
- · Key features: API, protocol, and service support, Unlimited agents for agent-to-agent traffic, AI Observability with token-level tracking, Advanced analytics for up to 1M API requests, Developer portal support for 2 portals
- · Integrates with: AWS, Azure, GCP, Git, Slack
- · Strengths: Comprehensive API management; Free trial available; Robust support for enterprise
Postman provides a low-barrier entry with a $0 starting price, including essential tools like mock servers, native Git integration, and 50 monthly AI credits for individual developers.
Free tier · paid from $0
- · Citation data still being collected (0 checks so far) — ranked on product facts only
- · Starting price: $0
- · Free tier available
- · Key features: 50 AI credits/month, API client & core tools, Specs & mock servers, Native Git, Unlimited manual Flows
- · Integrates with: Up to 5, Internal & Private workspaces, Collection Runner, SDK generation
- · Strengths: Affordable entry-level plan; Includes essential features; Good for individual developers
Apigee by Google Cloud utilizes a pay-as-you-go model at $20 per 1M calls, offering flexible subscription tiers alongside advanced API security and built-in analytics.
Free tier · paid from $20 (Standard API Proxy, per 1M API calls)
- · Citation data still being collected (5 checks so far) — ranked on product facts only
- · Starting price: $20 (Standard API Proxy, per 1M API calls)
- · Free tier available
- · Key features: Pay-as-you-go pricing, Multiple subscription tiers, API Analytics, Advanced API Security
- · Strengths: No upfront commitment; Flexible pricing options; Tailored for various use cases
AWS API Gateway is optimized for high-volume scaling with no upfront commitment, providing a generous free tier of one million API calls and a cost-effective $1.00 per million rate.
Free tier · paid from $1.00/million
- · Citation data still being collected (5 checks so far) — ranked on product facts only
- · Starting price: $1.00/million
- · Free tier available
- · Key features: Pay-as-you-go pricing, One million free API calls, No minimum fees, No upfront commitments
- · Strengths: Flexible pricing model; Generous free tier offers; Scalable for different needs
Zuplo features a managed, edge-native architecture that avoids per-seat fees, allowing for rapid deployment in under 60 seconds with a free tier covering 100K monthly requests.
Free tier · paid from $25/month
- · Citation data still being collected (5 checks so far) — ranked on product facts only
- · Starting price: $25/month
- · Free tier available
- · Key features: Fully managed API gateway, 100K requests/month free, Pay per request pricing, Edge-native and multi-cloud access
- · Strengths: Customizable plans based on usage; No per-seat fees; Fast deployment under 60 seconds
Tyk emphasizes scalability through usage-based pricing that includes unlimited API gateways and a developer portal, supported by an enhanced success plan for enterprise growth.
Free tier available
- · Citation data still being collected (5 checks so far) — ranked on product facts only
- · Free tier available
- · Key features: Usage-based pricing, Unlimited API gateways, Developer portal included, Enhanced success plan
- · Strengths: Flexible pricing model; Easy to start with a free trial; Scalable for enterprise needs
Gravitee offers a flat-rate pricing model at $1,250/month for unlimited users and managed APIs, providing production gateways and gold-level support for consistent workloads.
From $1,250/month
- · Citation data still being collected (5 checks so far) — ranked on product facts only
- · Starting price: $1,250/month
- · Key features: Unlimited Users, Unlimited APIs under Management, Production Gateways available, Gold Support
- · Strengths: Flat pricing for all API calls; Free onboarding and setup; Flexible gateway options
How we rank
Composite score, weighted across five public signals from each company's published releases:
- · Recency (25%) — exponential decay from the most recent release
- · Volume (20%) — releases published in the last 90 days
- · GEO score (25%) — average AI-optimization score
- · Citations (20%) — confirmed AI-engine citations
- · Entities (10%) — entity richness per release
Not on this list — or lower than you expected?
See the exact buyer questions where AI engines name someone else, and who they name instead.