MuleSoft API Manager Reviews and Pricing

reviewer2138688

Senior Developer at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

Apr 7, 2025

Download

Custom and out-of-the-box policies save time but the complex billing model challenges cost management

Pros and Cons

"MuleSoft API Manager allows us to implement custom policies or use out-of-the-box policies, such as authentication policies, which save time."

"I am not entirely satisfied with the support from MuleSoft. They can be slow in addressing security vulnerabilities, and transitioning versions is often their solution, with limited support windows causing difficulties in management decisions."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case for MuleSoft API Manager involves creating SOAP services, REST APIs, and integrating with JMS queues such as Event Hub and Kafka. We have developed interfaces for companies with SOAP-based APIs using WS security and REST-based APIs with OAuth security. Our requirements included streaming large files with MTOM attachments without storing the entire file in memory.

What is most valuable?

MuleSoft API Manager allows us to implement custom policies or use out-of-the-box policies, such as authentication policies, which save time. It also enables us to create additional layers of authentication, like integrating external providers for OAuth, within reduced timelines. We can achieve complex requirements using MuleSoft's capabilities without excessive development time.

What needs improvement?

The IDE can be slow, particularly when running and debugging multiple applications simultaneously, which takes longer to build. Managing the cost of MuleSoft, particularly the billing model based on the number of active cores/threads, has been challenging. The cost is higher than that of using Spring Boot or Java APIs run in containers.

For how long have I used the solution?

I started working with MuleSoft around 2015 during the Mule 3.4 version, so I have been using it for several years.

Buyer's Guide

MuleSoft API Manager

March 2025

Free Report: MuleSoft API Manager Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about MuleSoft API Manager. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

846,617 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

When we had to enable streaming capabilities not supported by the out-of-the-box connectors, we had to modify generic connectors by closely working with the MuleSoft team.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

There was an issue when trying to implement a request-reply pattern using JMS, which was not functioning as expected despite being documented. We used a custom listener to make the asynchronous system somewhat synchronous by continuously polling the JMS queue.

How are customer service and support?

I am not entirely satisfied with the support from MuleSoft. They can be slow in addressing security vulnerabilities, and transitioning versions is often their solution, with limited support windows causing difficulties in management decisions.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Negative

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

The only alternatives for MuleSoft suggested in my organizations have been using Java or .NET APIs, which typically have longer development times.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup requires some assistance from MuleSoft engineers and can be complicated when done for the first time, but once completed, the development time for APIs and integrations is greatly reduced.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Convincing management about the costs due to the billing based on the number of cores is a challenge. MuleSoft is typically more expensive compared to using Java or Spring Boot APIs hosted in containers.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

The alternate solution considered in our organizations against MuleSoft has been building APIs using Java or .NET.

What other advice do I have?

MuleSoft could improve by extending the support window for their product versions to at least four to five years, allowing more flexibility in planning upgrades. An alternative billing structure not tied to the number of cores would also be beneficial. Despite challenges, I would recommend MuleSoft due to significantly reduced development cycles. I would rate the overall solution as a 6 to 7.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

Last updated: Apr 7, 2025