Compare IBM API Connect and Kong Gateway 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Enterprise (44.1% of reviews)
Mid-Market (38.5% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Free Trial
Pay As You Go Per Month
IBM API Connect
Star Rating
(162)4.3 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (44.1% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Free Trial
Browse all 3 pricing plansKong Gateway
Star Rating
(306)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (38.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Pay As You Go Per Month
Free Trial is available
Learn more about Kong GatewaySummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Kong Gateway excels in its plugin architecture, allowing users to easily add new features. This flexibility is particularly appreciated by those who value the platform's open-source nature, although some users note that this can lead to delays in support for integrations and new feature requests.
- Users say that IBM API Connect stands out for its user-friendly interface and robust management capabilities across various API types, including REST and AsyncAPI. The built-in developer portal enhances service discoverability, making it easier for teams to consume APIs.
- Reviewers mention that Kong Gateway's performance and scalability are impressive, making it a solid choice for mid-market companies. However, the limited number of recent reviews suggests that some users may be seeking more up-to-date feedback on its evolving features.
- According to verified reviews, IBM API Connect is praised for its hybrid cloud deployment capabilities, which simplify API integration. Users frequently highlight the tool's straightforward implementation process, making it a go-to option for enterprises looking for comprehensive API management.
- G2 reviewers note that while Kong Gateway has a slightly higher score in ease of setup, IBM API Connect still provides a solid experience, particularly for larger organizations that benefit from its structured role division and DevOps support.
- Users highlight that both platforms offer strong scalability, but Kong Gateway's recent feedback emphasizes its adaptability for mid-market needs, while IBM API Connect's enterprise focus may better serve larger organizations with complex API requirements.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Kong Gateway
Kong Konnect
Pay As You Go
Per Month
- The easiest way to get started with Kong Gateway
- Customizable Dev Portal
- Plugins to extend capabilities including authentication, authorization, rate-limiting, transformations, security, and more
Free Trial
IBM API Connect
Free Trial is available
Kong Gateway
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.8
119
8.5
251
Ease of Use
8.5
121
8.6
254
Ease of Setup
7.8
69
8.4
197
Ease of Admin
8.0
57
8.4
141
Quality of Support
8.2
114
8.4
237
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.4
52
8.7
130
Product Direction (% positive)
9.5
116
9.2
243
Features by Category
Development
9.1
48
8.5
82
9.0
47
8.5
77
8.8
42
8.3
79
8.8
41
8.8
79
Collaboration
8.8
43
8.4
78
8.7
44
8.4
77
8.9
45
8.4
78
Customization
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Organization
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)Hide 15 FeaturesShow 15 Features
Not enough data
Not enough data
Prompt Engineering - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Inference Optimization - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Model Garden - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Custom Training - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Application Development - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Model Deployment - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Guardrails - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Model Monitoring - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Security - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Gateways & Routers - Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Development - API Platforms
Not enough data
8.0
11
Not enough data
9.2
11
Not enough data
7.9
11
Not enough data
9.2
12
Collaboration - API Platforms
Not enough data
8.0
11
Not enough data
8.7
13
Not enough data
8.2
11
API Management - API Platforms
Not enough data
7.9
12
Not enough data
9.0
12
Not enough data
9.2
12
Not enough data
8.3
12
Not enough data
7.4
11
Traffic Management & Performance - AI Gateways
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Governance & Observability - AI Gateways
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
API Construction
8.3
66
8.4
173
8.8
66
8.8
186
8.4
65
8.3
175
8.6
67
9.1
181
API Management
8.4
67
8.9
185
8.1
65
8.4
181
8.5
66
8.4
178
8.1
59
7.4
159
9.0
68
8.9
185
Data Integration
8.6
66
8.6
171
8.1
65
8.0
158
8.1
58
8.6
180
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
IBM API Connect and Kong Gateway are categorized as API Development, API Management, and API Platforms
Unique Categories
IBM API Connect is categorized as API Marketplace and AI Gateways
Kong Gateway is categorized as Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps) and API Documentation Management
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
IBM API Connect
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Kong Gateway
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Information Technology and Services
23.8%
Financial Services
11.9%
Banking
9.8%
Computer Software
8.4%
Retail
6.3%
Other
39.9%
Computer Software
22.6%
Information Technology and Services
12.3%
Financial Services
8.6%
Banking
7.5%
Telecommunications
5.1%
Other
43.8%
Alternatives
Discussions
How does API Connect work?
3 Comments
SP
IBM API Connect is an intuitive API Platform that lets you create, expose, manage and monetize APIs across various cloud platforms.Read more
IBM API Connect has no more discussions with answers
Is Kong Devops tool?
6 Comments
SS
It' a one of kind gateway service which used to protect other underwood services which come with many featuresRead more
What does KONG software do?
3 Comments
TP
Great question! Kong API Gateway is a service connectivity platform that allows teams to build, test, deploy, and securely expose their services across any...Read more
What is the use of Kong API gateway?
1 Comment
Official Response from Kong Gateway
Hello,
Kong Gateway is cloud-native API management solution that allows you to build, run, and govern your APIs and microservices. You can learn more...Read more
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