AppBreakup
Submit an app

WSO2 API Manager alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll API gateways and API management

Top picks

  • Kong logo

    Best overall

    Kong

    Starting price: From $25/month plus usage (Konnect Plus)

  • Tyk logo

    Best free option

    Tyk

    Open source

  • Kong logo

    Best open source

    Kong

    Starting price: From $25/month plus usage (Konnect Plus)

Common reasons people leave WSO2 API Manager: large Java-based platform with a steep setup and operations load, and production support and managed cloud are paid extras. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces WSO2 API Manager, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Kong currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Kong logoKongOpen sourceFrom $25/month plus usage (Konnect Plus)YesWeb, Linux, Self-hosted4 of 468.8
2Tyk logoTykOpen source—YesWeb, Linux, Self-hosted4 of 464.8
3Apigee logoApigeePaid$365 per month per region (Base environment)NoWeb8 of 861.8
4Azure API Management logoAzure API ManagementPaid—NoWeb5 of 559.4
5Amazon API Gateway logoAmazon API GatewayPaidUp to $200 for new AWS customersNoWeb6 of 657.5
6AxAxway Amplify API ManagementPaid—NoWeb, Self-hosted4 of 455.9
  1. Kong logo

    1. KongTop pick

    Best for: Platform teams wanting a battle-tested open-source gateway with an optional managed control plane

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Linux, Self-hosted

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from WSO2 API Manager

    Lighter, very popular gateway with an open-source core and a large plugin ecosystem.

    Pros

    • Open-source core under Apache 2.0
    • Large plugin library for auth, rate limiting and observability
    • Self-hosted, hybrid or fully managed deployment

    Cons

    • Many advanced plugins and the portal need a paid licence
    • Konnect usage pricing has many moving parts
    • More to operate than a single-binary gateway like KrakenD
    Visit Kong Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Kong a good WSO2 API Manager alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days (Konnect)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026konghq.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    From $25/month plus usage (Konnect Plus)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026konghq.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Extensibility
    Modules and plugins
    Checked Nov 8, 2026developer.konghq.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Tyk logo

    2. Tyk

    Best for: Teams in regulated industries wanting an open-source gateway they can fully self-manage

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Linux, Self-hosted

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from WSO2 API Manager

    Open-source gateway written in Go, simpler to run, with a full management layer available.

    Pros

    • Gateway is open source under MPL 2.0
    • Paid plans don't charge per API call
    • Cloud, hybrid or fully on-premises deployment

    Cons

    • Dashboard and developer portal require a paid licence
    • Cloud trial is only 48 hours
    • Smaller plugin ecosystem than Kong
    Visit Tyk Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Tyk a good WSO2 API Manager alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MPL 2.0 (Gateway and Pump)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tyk.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    48 hours (Tyk Cloud)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tyk.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Pricing basis
    Per API managed, unlimited calls
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tyk.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    REST, GraphQL, TCP, gRPC, MCP
    Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Apigee logo

    3. Apigee

    Best for: Large enterprises on Google Cloud that need full API lifecycle management, portals and analytics.

    PaidWeb

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from WSO2 API Manager

    Fully managed on Google Cloud if you'd rather not operate the platform yourself.

    Pros

    • Covers proxies, portals, analytics and monetization in one product
    • Hybrid option keeps API traffic in your own clusters
    • Free 60-day evaluation sandbox
    • Pay-as-you-go option for smaller starts

    Cons

    • Environment fees add a fixed monthly cost before any traffic
    • Policy configuration in XML feels dated next to code-first gateways
    • Closely tied to Google Cloud
    Visit Apigee Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Apigee a good WSO2 API Manager alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Free trial
    60-day sandbox evaluation
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloud.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pricing model
    Pay-as-you-go or subscription
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloud.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Standard proxy calls
    $20 per 1M calls (up to 50M)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloud.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Base environment
    $365 per month per region
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloud.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $365 per month per region (Base environment)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloud.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Intermediate environment plan
    $1,460 per month per region
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloud.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Comprehensive environment plan
    $3,431 per month per region
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloud.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Standard API proxy calls
    $20 per 1M calls (up to 50M)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloud.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Azure API Management logo

    4. Azure API Management

    Best for: Azure-based organisations that want a managed API gateway with a ready-made developer portal

    PaidWeb

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from WSO2 API Manager

    Managed service that fits naturally if your backends already run on Azure.

    Pros

    • Built-in developer portal with docs, test console and self-service API keys
    • Imports OpenAPI, WSDL, GraphQL and gRPC definitions
    • Serverless Consumption tier for low or spiky traffic
    • Close ties to Entra ID, Azure Monitor and virtual networks

    Cons

    • Self-hosted gateway in production needs the costly Premium tier
    • Developer tier has no SLA, so it can't be used for production
    • Policy configuration is XML-based and has a learning curve
    • Fits best when the rest of your stack is on Azure
    Visit Azure API Management Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Azure API Management a good WSO2 API Manager alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Developer portal
    Yes, open source and customizable
    Checked Nov 8, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API formats
    OpenAPI, WSDL, OData, WebSocket, GraphQL, gRPC
    Checked Nov 8, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosted gateway
    Yes, for on-premises and multi-cloud
    Checked Nov 8, 2026azure.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Serverless tier
    Consumption tier, billed per execution
    Checked Nov 8, 2026azure.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Developer tier
    No SLA; for evaluation and testing
    Checked Nov 8, 2026azure.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Amazon API Gateway logo

    5. Amazon API Gateway

    Best for: Teams building serverless or AWS-hosted backends who want pay-per-call APIs with no servers.

    PaidWeb

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from WSO2 API Manager

    Serverless, pay-per-call gateway for AWS-hosted APIs with no servers to manage.

    Pros

    • No minimum fees; you pay per call and data out
    • Tight integration with Lambda, IAM and Cognito
    • Supports REST, HTTP and WebSocket APIs
    • Free tier of one million calls a month for new accounts

    Cons

    • Only runs inside AWS and is region-bound
    • No polished developer portal out of the box
    • Costs and configuration get complex at high volume
    Visit Amazon API Gateway Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Amazon API Gateway a good WSO2 API Manager alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Pricing model
    Pay per API call, no minimum fees
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free tier
    1M REST + 1M HTTP calls/month for 12 months
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    WebSocket APIs
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    HTTP API calls
    $1.00 per million (first 300 million)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    REST API calls
    $3.50 per million (first 333 million, US East)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free tier credits
    Up to $200 for new AWS customers
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
  6. Ax

    6. Axway Amplify API Management

    Best for: Large regulated enterprises governing APIs across several gateways and clouds

    PaidWeb, Self-hosted

    55.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from WSO2 API Manager

    Commercial enterprise suite with federated management across many gateways and vendor support.

    Pros

    • Over 200 prebuilt security policies at the gateway
    • Federated governance across multiple gateways and deployments
    • Data plane runs on-premises or in any cloud
    • Pairs with Axway's file transfer and B2B integration products

    Cons

    • No public pricing or self-serve plan
    • Enterprise-scale platform that is heavy for small teams
    • Not open source, so no free self-hosted edition
    Visit Axway Amplify API Management Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Axway Amplify API Management a good WSO2 API Manager alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Security policies
    200+ prebuilt
    Checked Nov 6, 2026axway.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Deployment
    On-premises or any cloud
    Checked Nov 6, 2026axway.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Federated management
    Yes
    Checked Nov 6, 2026axway.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifecycle
    Design to retirement
    Checked Nov 6, 2026axway.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best WSO2 API Manager alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Kong logo

Best WSO2 API Manager alternative for most people

Kong

Lighter, very popular gateway with an open-source core and a large plugin ecosystem.

Tyk logo

Best WSO2 API Manager alternative for a free option

Tyk

Open-source gateway written in Go, simpler to run, with a full management layer available.

Kong logo

Best WSO2 API Manager alternative for open source

Kong

Lighter, very popular gateway with an open-source core and a large plugin ecosystem.

Kong logo

Best WSO2 API Manager alternative for self-hosting

Kong

Lighter, very popular gateway with an open-source core and a large plugin ecosystem.

Kong logo

Best WSO2 API Manager alternative for Linux

Kong

Lighter, very popular gateway with an open-source core and a large plugin ecosystem.

Apigee logo

Best WSO2 API Manager alternative for working in the browser

Apigee

Fully managed on Google Cloud if you'd rather not operate the platform yourself.

WSO2 API Manager alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to WSO2 API Manager?

Kong ranks first right now. Lighter, very popular gateway with an open-source core and a large plugin ecosystem. Tyk and Apigee follow it in our ranking.

WSO2 API Manager vs Kong: what's the difference?

Both WSO2 API Manager and Kong are free and open source. Only Kong runs on Linux.

Is WSO2 API Manager free?

WSO2 API Manager is free and open source.

How much do WSO2 API Manager alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked WSO2 API Manager alternatives: Kong, From $25/month plus usage (Konnect Plus); Apigee, $365 per month per region (Base environment); Amazon API Gateway, Up to $200 for new AWS customers. Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to WSO2 API Manager?

Yes. Kong (open source) and Tyk (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to WSO2 API Manager?

Yes: Kong and Tyk. Kong and Tyk can also be self-hosted.

Which WSO2 API Manager alternatives work on Linux?

Kong and Tyk run on Linux.

Why do people switch from WSO2 API Manager?

The complaints we hear most: large Java-based platform with a steep setup and operations load; production support and managed cloud are paid extras; heavier than lightweight gateways for simple routing needs.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces WSO2 API Manager, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.