Apache APISIX vs Kong Gateway Enterprise comparison

Apache and Kong are both solutions in the API Management category. Apache is ranked #16 with an average rating of 8.0, while Kong is ranked #4 with an average rating of 7.9. Apache holds a 3.1% mindshare in APIM, compared to Kong’s 5.9% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Apache users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Kong users who would recommend it.

Apache APISIX

Read 2 Apache APISIX reviews

2,665 Views
2,665 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Kong Gateway Enterprise

Read 25 Kong Gateway Enterprise reviews

5,871 Views
5,871 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Apache APISIX

Kong Gateway Enterprise

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Apache APISIX and Kong Gateway Enterprise based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two API Management solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Apache APISIX vs. Kong Gateway Enterprise Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Apache APISIX vs. Kong Gateway Enterprise

December 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Apache APISIX

Ranking in API Management

16th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Kong Gateway Enterprise

Ranking in API Management

4th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the API Management category, the mindshare of Apache APISIX is 3.1%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Kong Gateway Enterprise is 5.9%, down from 6.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Management Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Kong Gateway Enterprise	5.9%
Apache APISIX	3.1%
Other	91.0%

API Management

Featured Reviews

Aritra Basak

Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young

User-friendly platform simplifies traffic management and boosts API management through integrated plugins

The most valuable features of Apache APISIX include routing for upstream and frontend services, masking using proxy rewrite, and the integration of different plugins like Prometheus and Grafana. These plugins are self-integrated, allowing features like JWT authentication, rate limiting, and diverse authentication methods without extra integration. The tool is beneficial for its plugin orchestration which enhances API management with redirection, response rewrite, key authentication, and observability with Grafana and Prometheus.

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Evgeny Shkard

Enterprise Architect at El Al

Seamless integration and efficient security boost API management capabilities

More plugins for additional integrations would be helpful and openness for traditional development languages, such as .NET, because many enterprises are looking for .NET solutions or incorporating with .NET solutions. I mostly missed local resellers or partners that we could use within our enterprise, because it was difficult for some tech personnel to work with remote tech support.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I recommend Apache APISIX to others because of its many useful features."

"The most valuable features of Apache APISIX include routing for upstream and frontend services, masking using proxy rewrite, and the integration of different plugins like Prometheus and Grafana."

"In our buying companies' perspective, it was easier to use compared to other platforms. The markets were pretty familiar with the solutions."

"Protocol transformation is the most valuable feature of Kong Enterprise."

"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it seamlessly supports a vast number of tools."

"The most valuable feature of Kong Enterprise is its capability to integrate with various security tools."

"Kong Gateway helped to improve performance. It's good enough for our users."

"Kong Enterprise has excellent plugin support."

"It boasts remarkable speed and stability, and these qualities, particularly the gateway's resilience, are standout features for me."

"The solution's technical support is good and fast in terms of responsiveness and problem-solving skills."

More Kong Gateway Enterprise pros

Cons

"The user interface is limited and does not support all features of Apache APISIX."

"The routing algorithms in Apache APISIX, such as node-based and round-robin, could be improved. Introducing more plugins and supporting AI features can enhance the solution."

"Understanding the configurations and knowing what needs to be done can be a bit difficult initially."

"The tool needs improvement in UX."

"Kong Enterprise fails to provide live tracing of the APIs, which is possible nowadays."

"We are facing issues with the solution's features like reports and traffic analysis."

"Because it is open-source, it should be less expensive than others."

"From an improvement perspective, the product should offer more readily available connectors and also allow for more seamless AI integrations."

"The main challenge, in my opinion, is the price. It's difficult to convince our management to approve the budget to purchase it from our vendor. There are no technical problems."

"The OS upgrades are not as frequent as they should be and they are bulky."

More Kong Gateway Enterprise cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"There are many factors that influence the price of Kong Enterprise, such as scale, licenses, and usage."

"The price is really reasonable compared to that of alternative solutions."

"The licensing fees are paid yearly."

"Kong Enterprise's pricing is at par compared to the other technologies."

"Basically, my company uses the tool's open-source version."

"Kong Enterprise's pricing is reasonable for our company size."

"The licensing is expensive."

"I don't have any information on licensing costs currently."

More Kong Gateway Enterprise pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

13%

Comms Service Provider

Government

Financial Services Firm

18%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Large Enterprise	19

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Apache APISIX?

The routing algorithms in Apache APISIX, such as node-based and round-robin, could be improved. Introducing more plugins and supporting AI features can enhance the solution.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Apache APISIX?

The primary use case for Apache APISIX is to mask the API endpoints for my microservices and use self-given APIs in Apache APISIX and mask those with the actual real ones. This helps to prevent use...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Apache APISIX?

I rate Apache APISIX an eight out of ten overall. For new users, I advise going through the official documentation deeply to implement the solution efficiently.

See all answers

How does Kong Enterprise compare with Mulesoft Anypoint API Manager?

The Mulesoft Anypoint API Manager was designed with its users in mind. Though it is a reasonably complex piece of software, it is easy to install and upgrade. While there are different things that ...

See all answers

What do you like most about Kong Enterprise?

The tool's feature that I find most beneficial is rate limiting. In our usage, especially in the financial sector, we prioritize limiting API usage. This is crucial because we provide APIs to other...

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What needs improvement with Kong Enterprise?

See all answers

Comparisons

WSO2 API Manager vs Apache APISIX

Compared 17% of the time

Apigee vs Apache APISIX

Compared 14% of the time

Traefik Enterprise vs Apache APISIX

Compared 12% of the time

Tyk vs Apache APISIX

Compared 6% of the time

Amazon API Gateway vs Apache APISIX

Compared 5% of the time

More Apache APISIX Competitors

Apigee vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 13% of the time

WSO2 API Manager vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 12% of the time

Kong Konnect vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 9% of the time

Microsoft Azure API Management vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 8% of the time

MuleSoft API Manager vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 5% of the time

More Kong Gateway Enterprise Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

API Management

January 2026

Download Apache APISIX product report

Buyer's Guide

Kong Gateway Enterprise

January 2026

Download Kong Gateway Enterprise product report

Overview

Apache APISIX is an open-source API Gateway that supports dynamic routing, plugins, and load balancing. It is highly scalable and suitable for managing, securing, and efficiently controlling API traffic. Users appreciate its flexible and robust capabilities.

Developed for developers and businesses seeking to optimize API management, Apache APISIX offers a range of features tailored to improve performance and adaptability. With support for real-time dynamic updates and a broad plugin ecosystem, it can easily integrate into diverse architectures. This tool caters to a range of use cases, from boosting API efficiency to refining load balancing and traffic management.

What are the key features of Apache APISIX?

Dynamic Routing: Enables users to modify routes without service disruption.
Plugin Framework: Allows the addition of custom features to enhance functionality.
HTTPS and SSL Termination: Increases security for API communications.
Load Balancing: Distributes traffic to optimize resource usage.
Comprehensive Monitoring: Offers real-time insights into API performance.

What benefits should users consider?

Scalability: Quickly adapts to increasing traffic demands.
Performance Enhancement: Optimizes API speed and responsiveness.
Reduced Downtime: Maintains stability with updates and changes.
Security: Enhances protection with strong encryption protocols.

Apache APISIX is widely implemented across industries, including finance and e-commerce, where it manages large volumes of transactions efficiently. Its adaptability allows it to meet specific industry needs, supporting businesses in achieving optimal API performance and security.

Apache

Kong delivers a next generation API platform built for modern architectures. With a lightnight-fast, lightweight, and flexible core, Kong delivers sub-millisecond latency across all your services. Kong's is deployment-, vendor-, and pattern-agnostic, allowing you to run your services how you want, where you want, and with who you want - from baremetal to cloud, monolith to microservices, service mesh, and beyond.

Kong

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Cargill, Zillow, Ferrari, WeWork, Healthcare.gov, Yahoo! Japan, Giphy, SkyScanner

Buyer's Guide

Apache APISIX vs. Kong Gateway Enterprise

December 2025

Free Report: Apache APISIX vs. Kong Gateway Enterprise

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