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Head-to-head · API Security Software

Akto API Security Platform vs Datadog App & API Protection

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Akto API Security Platform #5 in API Security Software 7.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Akto
Datadog App & API Protection #8 in API Security Software 6.8/10 From $31/mo (annual) · 14-day trial ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Datadog

Akto API Security Platform leads on 1 check, Datadog App & API Protection on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAkto API Security Platform · 7.7/10
  • Free planonly Akto API Security Platform

Akto API Security Platform scores higher on our rubric for api security software: 7.7 against 6.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #8.

Akto API Security Platform offers free plan; Datadog App & API Protection doesn't. On deployment model, Akto API Security Platform gives you Hybrid where Datadog App & API Protection offers Cloud.

Akto API Security Platform is the better fit for teams wanting open-source API security with broad coverage. Datadog App & API Protection is the better fit for observability teams adding API runtime protection.

  • Akto API Security Platform fits best

    Teams wanting open-source API security with broad coverage

  • Datadog App & API Protection fits best

    Observability teams adding API runtime protection

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Akto API Security Platform 7.7/10 Visit ↗ Datadog App & API Protection 6.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.7 6.8
Ranking #5 in API Security Software #8 in API Security Software
Best for Teams wanting open-source API security with broad coverage Observability teams adding API runtime protection
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price Not published $31/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Web Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7 Email, Live chat, Community, Docs
Compliance SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2
Integrations 50+ integrations 1,000+ integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Akto API Security Platform 5/5 · Datadog App & API Protection 5/5
API discovery ✓ ✓
Runtime protection ✓ ✓
API posture management ✓ ✓
Sensitive data detection ✓ ✓
Specification governance ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Cloud
Our review
Pros
  • Free plan includes API security testing at no cost
  • 1,000+ pre-built tests plus discovery from traffic, code, and specs
  • Runtime blocking, posture monitoring, and sensitive-data detection in one platform
  • Discovers documented, undocumented, and shadow APIs continuously
  • Combines API posture checks with in-app WAF threat blocking
  • Correlates attack flows with traces, errors, and logs
Cons
  • Professional pricing is usage-based by API endpoint
  • Enterprise is designed for larger organizations with complex requirements
  • The Free plan highlights API security testing rather than the full feature set
  • Requires Datadog Infrastructure Monitoring
  • No free plan is available
  • Pricing is based on hosts and costs more with monthly billing
Our verdict

Akto API Security Platform is an open-source API security platform for application security, product security, and development teams. It discovers APIs from traffic, code connectors, and OpenAPI specifications, then maintains an API…

Read the review →

Datadog App & API Protection is a cloud security product for Security and DevOps teams that need visibility and protection across production APIs. It continuously discovers documented, undocumented, and shadow APIs, builds endpoint…

Read the review →
  1. Akto API Security PlatformAPI Security Software 7.7Free plan
  2. Datadog App & API ProtectionAPI Security Software 6.8From $31/mo (annual) · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Akto API Security Platform — where it wins

    • Free plan includes API security testing at no cost
    • 1,000+ pre-built tests plus discovery from traffic, code, and specs
    • Runtime blocking, posture monitoring, and sensitive-data detection in one platform

    Where it doesn't

    • Professional pricing is usage-based by API endpoint
    • Enterprise is designed for larger organizations with complex requirements
    • The Free plan highlights API security testing rather than the full feature set

  • Datadog App & API Protection — where it wins

    • Discovers documented, undocumented, and shadow APIs continuously
    • Combines API posture checks with in-app WAF threat blocking
    • Correlates attack flows with traces, errors, and logs

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires Datadog Infrastructure Monitoring
    • No free plan is available
    • Pricing is based on hosts and costs more with monthly billing
  • Akto API Security Platform7.7/10 · Free plan

    Open-source API security with discovery, testing, posture management, and runtime protection.

    Visit AktoFull verdict →
  • Datadog App & API Protection6.8/10 · From $31/mo (annual) · 14-day trial

    A strong fit for observability teams that need API discovery and runtime blocking.

    Visit DatadogFull verdict →

More comparisons

All API security software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update