Amazon API Gateway vs Higress

Amazon API Gateway9.3Visit Higress7.2Visit

Higher score Amazon API Gateway #2 in API Gateway Software 9.3/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit site

vs

Higress #23 in API Gateway Software 7.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Higress

• Amazon API Gateway fits best

  AWS-native teams needing broad API management

• Higress fits best

  Open-source Kubernetes and AI gateway teams

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Side by side

Feature	Amazon API Gateway 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Higress 7.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	7.2
Ranking	#2 in API Gateway Software	#23 in API Gateway Software
Best for	AWS-native teams needing broad API management	Open-source Kubernetes and AI gateway teams
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	—	Free plan
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Docs, Community	Community, Docs
Integrations	13 integrations	8 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Amazon API Gateway 2/2 · Higress 2/2
Rate limiting	✓	✓
Request transformation	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment model	Cloud	Hybrid
Supported protocols	HTTP, REST, WebSocket	HTTP, HTTP2, HTTPS, GRPC, GRPCS, TCP, Dubbo
Authentication methods	IAM/SigV4, Amazon Cognito user pools, JWT/OIDC/OAuth 2.0, Lambda authorizers, API keys, mutual TLS	Key Auth, HMAC Auth, JWT Auth, Basic Auth, OAuth2, OIDC, External Auth, OPA
Monthly request limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Supports HTTP, REST, and WebSocket APIs Offers IAM, Cognito, JWT, authorizers, API keys, and mutual TLS Connects with Lambda, CloudWatch, WAF, CloudFront, and other AWS services	Supports Kubernetes Ingress and Gateway API routing Combines WAF, authentication, rate limiting, and transformations Adds AI gateway functions for model APIs, MCP tools, and token control
Cons	Usage pricing varies by API type, region, volume, and related services Data transfer, connection minutes, and caching can add separate charges API Gateway Portals cost $125 per month	Requires teams to manage an open-source deployment Its broad feature set may exceed simpler gateway needs AI gateway capabilities are tied to Higress's broader gateway scope
Our verdict	Amazon API Gateway is a fully managed cloud service for creating, publishing, securing, monitoring, and operating APIs. It supports HTTP APIs, REST APIs, and WebSocket APIs, making it suitable for teams exposing backend functionality to… Read the review →	Higress is an open-source API gateway for teams managing Kubernetes traffic, APIs, microservices, security controls, and AI gateway workloads. It can run independently with Docker or in Kubernetes, with web, API, and self-hosted access.… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Amazon API Gateway — where it wins

  • Supports HTTP, REST, and WebSocket APIs
  • Offers IAM, Cognito, JWT, authorizers, API keys, and mutual TLS
  • Connects with Lambda, CloudWatch, WAF, CloudFront, and other AWS services

  Where it doesn't

  • Usage pricing varies by API type, region, volume, and related services
  • Data transfer, connection minutes, and caching can add separate charges
  • API Gateway Portals cost $125 per month

• Higress — where it wins

  • Supports Kubernetes Ingress and Gateway API routing
  • Combines WAF, authentication, rate limiting, and transformations
  • Adds AI gateway functions for model APIs, MCP tools, and token control

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires teams to manage an open-source deployment
  • Its broad feature set may exceed simpler gateway needs
  • AI gateway capabilities are tied to Higress's broader gateway scope

• Amazon API Gateway9.3/10 · Paid

  A broad AWS-native gateway for HTTP, REST, WebSocket, and private API workloads.

  Visit siteFull verdict →
• Higress7.2/10 · Free plan

  A broad open-source gateway for Kubernetes routing, security, service traffic, and AI APIs.

  Visit HigressFull verdict →