IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs Microsoft Azure API Management comparison

IBM and Microsoft are both solutions in the API Management category. IBM is ranked #27 with an average rating of 8.5, while Microsoft is ranked #1 with an average rating of 7.9. IBM holds a 0.5% mindshare in APIM, compared to Microsoft’s 16.7% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Read 5 IBM Cloud Pak for Integration reviews

1,293 Views
621 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Azure API Management

Read 82 Microsoft Azure API Management reviews

18,860 Views
18,860 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Microsoft Azure API Management

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

Microsoft Azure API Management and IBM Cloud Pak for Integration are competitive solutions focusing on enterprise API management and integration. Microsoft's offering benefits from favorable pricing and robust support, appealing to budget-conscious users, whereas IBM's extensive feature set attracts enterprises seeking thorough integration solutions.

Features: Microsoft Azure API Management stands out for its intuitive setup, seamless integration with Microsoft environments, and durable security protocols. Its integration into the Azure ecosystem offers significant advantages for those already using Microsoft technologies. Alternatively, IBM Cloud Pak for Integration provides a versatile toolkit with components like IBM App Connect and Messaging, alongside AI-driven insights, positioning it as a leader in tackling complex digital transformation challenges.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Azure API Management could enhance its cross-platform support and expand upon its existing tools for diverse cloud environments. Enhancements in custom integration options and providing more real-time analytics could also be beneficial. IBM Cloud Pak for Integration could work on simplifying the initial deployment process, reduce user reliance on IBM-specific expertise, and aim to lower initial costs to be more accessible for smaller enterprises.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Azure API Management facilitates easy deployment, especially for businesses already within the Microsoft ecosystem, supported by responsive customer service. In contrast, IBM Cloud Pak for Integration potentially requires more IBM expertise during deployment. However, this is balanced by highly personalized and effective support that helps navigate complex integration scenarios effectively.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Azure API Management is praised for its cost-effective pricing model, aligning well with a range of business sizes, facilitating high ROI due to its comprehensive integration with Microsoft services. While IBM Cloud Pak for Integration might have higher upfront costs, its extensive feature offerings and deep integration capabilities aim to deliver justified ROI for enterprises looking beyond basic integration solutions to full-scale digital transformation efforts.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs. Microsoft Azure API Management Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs. Microsoft Azure API Management

July 2025

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Helped 865,295 peers since 2012

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

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Ranking in API Management

27th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Data Integration (16th)

Microsoft Azure API Management

Ranking in API Management

1st

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the API Management category, the mindshare of IBM Cloud Pak for Integration is 0.5%, down from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Azure API Management is 16.7%, down from 19.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Management

Featured Reviews

Neelima Golla

Senior Software Engineer at NessPRO Italy

A hybrid integration platform that applies the functionality of closed-loop AI automation

I recommend using it because, in today's context, the cloud plays a significant role. Within the same user interface, you can develop applications and manage multiple applications, making it a more user-friendly option. Moreover, you can explore various other technologies while deploying on the cloud, broadening your knowledge of cloud technologies. In my case, the transition led to my learning of Kubernetes, enabling multi-scaling and expanding my technical skills. It was a valuable experience, and I had the opportunity to learn many new things during the migration process. I can easily rate it an eight or nine out of ten.

Read full review

Praveen_Srivastava

Solution Architect at Cognizant

Streamlined operations with gateway and authentication features

Azure API Management has helped streamline our operations by acting as a gateway for upstream and downstream applications. It provides authentication and authorization, ensuring that both verified and suspicious users are managed efficiently. The use of analytics within API Management is also valuable for tracking user behavior and ensuring security.

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

"Cloud Pak for Integration is definitely scalable. That is the most important criteria."

"Redirection is a key feature. It helps in managing multiple microservices by centralizing control and access."

"It is a stable solution."

"The most preferable aspect would be the elimination of the command, which was a significant improvement. In the past, it was a challenge, but now we can proceed smoothly with the implementation of our policies and everything is managed through JCP. It's still among the positive aspects, and it's a valuable feature."

"The most valuable aspect of the Cloud Pak, in general, is the flexibility that you have to use the product."

"The API management is great."

"There were no scalability issues."

"The documentation and configuration of APIs."

"The most valuable feature is the developer portal, which has source code examples in various programming languages to help developers learn the API."

"It’s easy to set up."

"The solution's configuration capabilities are the most effective features for enhancing API security."

"The ease of setting up a new solution is the most valuable feature. It's very easy to set up a new solution and to deploy it to production."

"The ability to easily connect back to Service Fabric is the most important for us."

More Microsoft Azure API Management pros

Cons

"Enterprise bots are needed to balance products like Kafka and Confluent."

"The initial setup is not easy."

"Setting up Cloud Pak for Integration is relatively complex. It's not as easy because it has not yet been fully integrated. You still have some products that are still not containerized, so you still have to run them on a dedicated VM."

"Its queuing and messaging features need improvement."

"The pricing can be improved."

"In the next release, Azure APIM should include deployment in various environments and CI/CD for deployment."

"API Management's price could be lower."

"If I compare this solution to others I have used in other phases of my life, having APIM being an Azure resource, it is easy to configure and deploy. However, this conversely reduced the flexibility. The difficulty is how do we configure it in a manner that a larger enterprise would probably want it to be. This creates a bit more complexity, working around the constraints of the resource itself. If comparing it to other solutions, it is more of a legacy design with an older approach. The various level components are still around resembling an on-premise type of design similar to other solutions, such as Apigee or Mulesoft. They are still predominantly carrying some legacy design. Which might be suited for organizations where they have a more complex network layout. APIM is easy to deploy, but on the other side of that, it is constrained to how Azure has designed it to be."

"I would like to see more integration with other platforms, as well as increased security."

"Azure is our most expensive resource; it's costly."

"Sometimes when immediate support is required, it isn't available."

"Azure API Management could be improved with better integration with all of Microsoft's tools."

"This solution is only available as a cloud-based deployment and it would be very helpful to have an on-premises version."

More Microsoft Azure API Management cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution's pricing model is very flexible."

"It is an expensive solution."

"Microsoft is competitively priced."

"It's an expensive solution"

"Since everyone is isocentric here, it is reasonable for me."

"Compared to other solutions the cost is a seven out of ten."

"The product pricing is reasonable."

"The developer and standard pricing tiers of Azure API Management are very competitive compared to other products."

"Because of our partner relationship, our pricing is pretty decent. But in general, if I compare pricing, I think the initial offer that we got from Microsoft until the relationship kicked in was more expensive than AWS. There were some unexpected expenses because we had to pause. This was due to our inexperience and because we were doing this significant public cloud migration for the first time. We were using SAP on a public cloud for the first time."

"It is an expensive solution, but any API solution will be expensive."

More Microsoft Azure API Management pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

20%

Government

10%

Computer Software Company

Insurance Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Cloud Pak for Integration?

The most preferable aspect would be the elimination of the command, which was a significant improvement. In the past, it was a challenge, but now we can proceed smoothly with the implementation of ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Cloud Pak for Integration?

Enterprise bots are needed to balance products like Kafka and Confluent.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Cloud Pak for Integration?

It manages APIs and integrates microservices at the enterprise level. It offers a range of capabilities for handling APIs, microservices, and various integration needs. The platform supports thousa...

See all answers

How does Apigee differ from Azure API Management?

Apigee offers both cloud-based and on-prem options while Microsoft Azure API Management currently only offers a cloud-based solution. Both solutions are easy to use. Apigee allows for the ability...

See all answers

Which is better - Azure API Management or Amazon API Gateway?

If you use Azure products, API Management is a great solution. It solves many of the problems of externalizing web services. For example, when you need versioning, establish a developer portal and ...

See all answers

What do you like most about Microsoft Azure API Management?

Microsoft Azure API Management is a good, comprehensive solution for enterprise implementation.

See all answers

Comparisons

IBM App Connect vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 37% of the time

IBM API Connect vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 13% of the time

IBM DataPower Gateway vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 8% of the time

webMethods.io vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 8% of the time

WSO2 API Manager vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 5% of the time

More IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Competitors

Amazon API Gateway vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 49% of the time

Apigee vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 16% of the time

IBM API Connect vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 5% of the time

Kong Gateway Enterprise vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 4% of the time

MuleSoft API Manager vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 4% of the time

More Microsoft Azure API Management Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

API Management

July 2025

Download IBM Cloud Pak for Integration product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure API Management

August 2025

Download Microsoft Azure API Management product report

Also Known As

No data available

Azure API Management, MS Azure API Management

Overview

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration gives you complete, flexible integration using capabilities you need to move at today's speed of business, including the tools to help you achieve your application modernization goals as part of your journey to the cloud.

IBM

Microsoft Azure API Management is essential for managing APIs, facilitating integration, and ensuring secure internal and external communication.

Organizations leverage Microsoft Azure API Management for seamless integration and effective API management. It supports microservices, legacy modernization, and platform orchestration in sectors like healthcare, telecom, and finance. Features such as developer portals and centralized libraries simplify usage. While it showcases strengths in hybrid cloud support and scalability, improvements are suggested in versioning and multi-tenancy.

What key features does it offer?

Integration with Microsoft services ensures robust access control and user-friendly deployment.
Developer portal and documentation improve usability and learning.
Hybrid cloud support offers seamless on-premise connectivity.
Scalability and security features are well-regarded.
Centralized API library simplifies management.

What benefits or ROI should users consider?

Facilitates API lifecycle management enhancing user experience.
Simplifies authentication and subscription models.
Enhances data exchange and real-time monitoring.
Streamlines API mapping and orchestration across platforms.
Promotes flexibility and transparency in system integration.

Microsoft Azure API Management aids modernization across healthcare, telecom, and financial services by enabling legacy system updates and facilitating smooth platform orchestration.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

CVS Health Corporation

adnymics GmbH, LG CNS, Centrebet, netfabb GmbH, MedPlast, Accelera Solutions, Sochi Organizing Committee, realzeit GmbH, Opensistemas

Buyer's Guide

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs. Microsoft Azure API Management

July 2025

Free Report: IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs. Microsoft Azure API Management

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