

Microsoft Azure API Management and Kong Gateway Enterprise compete in the API management category, offering distinct advantages. Azure API Management holds the upper hand with its seamless integration within the Microsoft ecosystem, though Kong Gateway Enterprise is highly praised for its open-source foundation and robust API governance.
Features: Microsoft Azure API Management features seamless integration within the Microsoft ecosystem, including Active Directory integration and comprehensive developer resources. It emphasizes ease of use and detailed monitoring capabilities. Kong Gateway Enterprise stands out for its open-source DNA, vibrant community support, and effective rate limiting. The platform also excels in API governance, enhancing overall security.
Room for Improvement: Microsoft Azure API Management could improve integration with third-party tools and offer greater flexibility in API management. Users expressed a need for on-premises options and enhanced developer tools. Kong Gateway Enterprise faces high pricing concerns and calls for better developer portal features. There is also a demand for improved live API tracing and more reasonable pricing strategies.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Azure API Management supports various deployment models with reliable technical support, though response times can differ. Kong Gateway Enterprise offers versatility with on-premises and hybrid cloud solutions. Its technical support is well-rated but sometimes considered less accessible.
Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Azure API Management provides competitive pricing across different tiers, with premium features potentially being costly. Users favor its pay-as-you-go model and appreciate reduced integration times. Kong Gateway Enterprise offers an affordable open-source choice but sees high enterprise pricing. Expenses may rise due to licensing costs and SD-WAN charges, although its SaaS model provides cost-effective scalability.
Proper configuration of the solution, implementation strategy and correct scaling tier selection are other factors that influence the ROI.
If I am working in AWS and with Azure, I see that Azure is much easier and helps save time while also being able to manage and deploy the API services.
We have seen significant financial benefits after using the product.
The technical support from Kong Gateway Enterprise would be rated about eight, as we missed local technical support.
The documentation from Microsoft helps our company to solve issues on our own.
The initial support engineers are often not qualified.
I logged an incident, and it was resolved promptly within three hours.
The scalability of this solution would be rated about eight or nine.
I've worked with multiple tools from an observability perspective, such as Dynatrace, AppDynamics, Splunk, and Elasticsearch, and I find KQL and APIM amazing and filled with useful features.
There are no limitations to adding any number of devices.
Microsoft Azure API Management is extremely scalable.
Microsoft Azure API Management is very stable.
With high scalability and availability, it supports many users and endpoints without significant issues.
Microsoft Azure API Management is generally stable.
Security is a major concern, especially with new security architecture coming into place.
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.
The service is extensive and expensive, and this added flexibility would make it more manageable and less prone to errors.
Documentations for the product should include examples of implementation.
They should enhance AI capabilities and more advanced integration features with other platforms.
It's an expensive solution.
However, once you scale up to your full volume, it'll be more expensive.
It costs around 30,000 Kronas a month, which translates to about $3,000 dollars monthly.
The most valuable features of Kong Gateway Enterprise are its seamless integration with Kubernetes and cloud, many plugins that can be incorporated in a solution, and its incorporation with low-code function systems.
Price is not a concern for us, but based on our experience working with financial institutions, maintainability and security are the primary concerns and areas they focus on.
The platform's most valuable features are its rule-based permissions and comprehensive API lifecycle management capabilities.
The ability to create a subscription model for APIs allows companies to monetize valuable data and share it securely.
The analytics phase of API Management is very beneficial for tracking API usage and identifying suspicious users.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Azure API Management | 14.7% |
| Kong Gateway Enterprise | 5.8% |
| Other | 79.5% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 8 |
| Large Enterprise | 20 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 23 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 11 |
| Large Enterprise | 53 |
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.
Microsoft Azure API Management offers a comprehensive solution for managing APIs, ensuring security, integration, and access across cloud environments. It enables seamless API orchestration and supports flexible management systems, making it valuable for API-driven architectures.
Microsoft Azure API Management is an advanced platform designed for seamless API integration and management within Microsoft's ecosystem. It provides robust security capabilities, including access control and Active Directory integration. The platform features a developer portal for easy API documentation and testing, along with real-time monitoring, analytics, and configurable policies to enhance API behavior. With hybrid cloud support and API orchestration, users gain flexibility and the ability to monetize APIs through subscriptions. The platform aids businesses in modernizing their applications and processes, but users have highlighted the need for enhanced scalability, third-party integration, improved documentation, and more comprehensive pricing models.
What are the most important features of Azure API Management?Azure API Management is widely implemented across industries like finance, healthcare, and retail to integrate and manage internal and external APIs. Businesses use it for secure connections, microservices support, and modernizing legacy systems. It's also adopted for subscription models and access control, aiding companies in automating and enhancing their operational processes.
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