# Apache Synapse Reviews
**Vendor:** The Apache Software Foundation  
**Category:** [On-Premise Data Integration Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/on-premise-data-integration)  
**Average Rating:** 3.9/5.0  
**Total Reviews:** 14
## About Apache Synapse
Apache Synapse is a lightweight and high-performance Enterprise Service Bus (ESB). Apache Synapse provides exceptional support for XML, Web Services and REST.



## Apache Synapse Pros & Cons
**What users like:**

- Users appreciate the **ease of use** of Apache Synapse, benefiting from its lightweight design and reliable performance. (1 reviews)
- Users commend the **high-performance** of Apache Synapse, noting its efficiency in handling messaging and routing tasks. (1 reviews)
- Users commend the **high reliability** of Apache Synapse in efficiently routing complex traffic between systems. (1 reviews)

**What users dislike:**

- Users find the **configuration complexity** of Apache Synapse challenging, requiring expert knowledge for effective implementation. (1 reviews)
- Users find the **complex setup** of Apache Synapse difficult, often requiring expertise and making debugging challenging. (1 reviews)
- Users find the **learning difficulty** significant due to outdated XML configuration and unhelpful documentation for beginners. (1 reviews)
- Users find the **poor documentation** of Apache Synapse challenging, especially for beginners trying to configure it effectively. (1 reviews)
- Users find the **technical difficulties** of Apache Synapse, especially with XML configuration, frustrating and overly challenging. (1 reviews)
- Unclear Documentation (1 reviews)

## Apache Synapse Reviews
  ### 1. Powerful but complex mediation engine

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Juan L. | Customer service agent, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** December 29, 2025

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

It’s a very lightweight and high-performance ESB. I love how it handles asynchronous messaging and XML mediation without consuming too many resources. It is highly reliable for routing complex traffic between legacy systems and modern APIs.

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

The configuration is purely based on XML files, which feels very outdated and makes it hard to debug when something goes wrong. Also, the documentation is not very beginner-friendly, so you really need to be an expert to set it up correctly.

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

This solution resolved our connectivity problems between legacy on-premise databases and our new cloud applications. By serving as a mediation layer, it eliminated the need to rewrite existing code. As a result, we've saved significant development time and achieved much more stable system integrations.

  ### 2. From Chaos to Cohesion: Streamline Your Integration Efforts with Apache Synapse ESB

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Bhargav N. | Software Architect, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** February 25, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

What I like best about Apache Synapse is its ability to handle a large volume of messages efficiently. As someone who processes a lot of messages daily, this feature is crucial in ensuring that my work is done quickly and reliably. I appreciate its flexibility and scalability, which allows me to customize the system to meet my specific needs.

The most helpful aspect of Apache Synapse is its message mediation capabilities. It allows me to transform messages in different ways, making communication between different systems and applications seamless. I find this feature particularly useful when working on complex projects that require integrating multiple systems.

The upsides of using Apache Synapse are numerous. It's a versatile, open-source ESB solution that's easy to use and customize. Its support for various transport protocols makes it an excellent tool for integrating different systems and applications. The strong community around Apache Synapse ensures that the system stays up-to-date with the latest ESB technology developments and innovations, making it a reliable and future-proof solution.

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

As someone who has used Apache Synapse, I can say that it is a highly capable ESB solution that offers many advantages for integrating systems and applications. Its message mediation capabilities are especially impressive, allowing for complex message routing, transformation, and enrichment.

However, I also found that there were some downsides to using Apache Synapse. For example, its heavyweight nature can be a challenge for smaller organizations or projects, as it may require more resources than they can afford. Additionally, the system can be complex and challenging to set up for the first time, which can be frustrating for new users.

Despite these challenges, I believe that Apache Synapse is an excellent choice for organizations that need a scalable and reliable ESB solution. With its robust features and flexibility, it can help streamline and automate critical business processes, ultimately saving time and resources in the long run.

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

In my experience using Apache Synapse, I've found that it's incredibly helpful in solving business problems related to system integration. One of the most significant benefits is the reduction of manual intervention in data exchange. By automating critical processes and streamlining integration, I've saved time and resources while increasing productivity.

Apache Synapse has been particularly useful in addressing the challenge of integrating various systems and applications seamlessly. Prior to using Apache Synapse, we struggled with delays and errors in our business operations due to integration challenges. However, Apache Synapse's flexibility and robust features have allowed us to streamline integration processes, minimizing errors and increasing efficiency.

Overall, I believe that Apache Synapse is an excellent tool for organizations looking to solve critical business problems related to system integration.

  ### 3. Lightweight and high performance open source enterprise service Bus

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Riya J. | Senior Software Engineer, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 09, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

Apache Synapse has a Modular architecture that allows hot deployments without restarting the server and allows users to add new functionality as needed.
It provides support for XML, Webservices and Rest as well.
It provides JMS support for SOAP, text and Plain payloads

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

Apache Synapse has a more significant learning curve as compared to other platforms.
Less Support and community
No Rich documentation available on the internet

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

We have used Apache synapse to parse the XML and JSON from the SOAP and REST API and to process it. 
Apache Synapse is lightweight which makes it highly efficient than other available tools in market.

  ### 4. Good solution for XML & Rest

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Anish Kumar  D. | Specialist, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 01, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

Our content interchange just got a lot easier with the introduction of Apache Synapse in our environment. We use Apache Synapse most of the time, and it being open source, is free too.

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

This is the other side of the coin, Apache Synapse being a open source software doesn't have a very streamlined support in case if we run into any issues. The support is very slow.

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

It solves the basic problem of content interchange across two different formats. Even we can integrate a wide range of framework files, an d get the output in the desired format.

  ### 5. Highly efficient & open source ESB system

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Martand S. | Senior Data Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** April 19, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

Apache synapse is efficient & support almost all the popular messaging system http, soap, SMTP. Synapse supports message transformation using Java, XSLT, or XPath and XQuery.

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

Never found any dislike for this feature but only concern is the number of maximum request limit which is 200.

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

We are using Apache synapse as the web service engine.

  ### 6. Handle large volumes of data and complex message flows with Apache Synapse

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** aditi d. | Associate, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 18, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

As a user of Apache Synapse, I can confidently say that this is a powerful and versatile open-source Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) that has dramatically simplified our integration processes.

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

Apache Synapse can improve its support for various message transformation and routing options, overall it's good.

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Apache Synapse has allowed us to easily convert and transform data between different formats and route messages to the appropriate destinations based on various criteria.

  ### 7. OpenSource Tool great with heavy loads

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Lokesh G. | Project Manager, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** February 07, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

The app being an open source and available to use is its best quality among being easy to use and reliable for clustered deployments

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

Configuration: the app being opensource, needs to be configured according to use

However its a one time activity

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

clustered deployments in prod

  ### 8. XML and REST Api's are now more easy to debug

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Ritika S. | Associate, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** February 07, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

Ability to debug my XML code and Cross-check all my REST API's to ensure security in the future.

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

As it is Open source, there are not much people with it, So support is not that quick and less updates

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

SMTP services are now easily implemented as compared to other paid softwares, and Apache Synapse is very lightweight so performance is really good.

  ### 9. Message routing between different protocols

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Luis V. | Cofundador, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 13, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

That can transform messages from one format to another and is compatible with a variety of communication protocols.

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

What I like the least is the monitoring and management system.

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

The transformation and adaptation of messages.

  ### 10. Excellent product

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Rahul G. | Technical Lead, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 09, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

Easy to use tool to transform data across paltforms

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

Nothing much as far using it. Might be good to improve of fre Glichtes

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Wr have integrated our on premises data platform to interact with BI tools.

  ### 11. Very useful for a web developer

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Tushar V. | Javascript Developer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** February 07, 2023

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

It's lightweight, open-source, and free of use. Impressed by the services they offer.

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

Nothing As of now, Being open source, it will grow more eventually, And i like to contribute to it as well.

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Parsing XML data, And help to maintain record of REST api. Really help in debbuging.

  ### 12. I have more than 10 years of experience.

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Vaibhav S. | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** June 12, 2018

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

It's usability. I can build application very fast and it is very easy to debug. It is perfect tool for small to large scale project. 

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

Build time should be reduced after a change if code logic. Somehow this should be reduced. Ko

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

I am working on an insurance plateform where multiple screen are to be developed and deployed. This is good tool for this.

  ### 13. Simple to use,Open source

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** June 12, 2018

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

The fact that it is open source, and helps to create and use virtual services
Has support for clustered deployments too.

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

As of now, nothing!
The package is lightweight and simple, and although it needs a JVM to run, that can be easily solved. Also, it is designed keeping in mind that not everyone is a java expert.

**Recommendations to others considering Apache Synapse:**

Easier to use, open source under Apache license.

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

I used to use synapse for the creation of proxy services and mail transport over SMTP

  ### 14. IT director

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Broadcast Media | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** June 13, 2018

**What do you like best about Apache Synapse?**

It is open source and supports cluster deployments. I also like its ability to handle large loads. 

**What do you dislike about Apache Synapse?**

It is somewhat difficult to configure correctly for good performance. 

**What problems is Apache Synapse solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Receiving compressed  files that must be uncompressed and parceled out for processing. 



- [View Apache Synapse pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-synapse/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-06-03+01%3A45%3A11+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=3c8322bf-c000-4352-9636-37c82edfd9ed&secure%5Btoken%5D=ec0c5796d14d6ed29b24551f3a4c0a781a60d83ed731bc08a630573f2989b0b2&format=llm_user)


## Top Apache Synapse Alternatives
  - [MuleSoft Anypoint Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/mulesoft-anypoint-platform/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (629 reviews)
  - [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-sql-server/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (2,125 reviews)
  - [Cleo Integration Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/cleo-integration-cloud/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (549 reviews)

