Apache APISIX vs IBM API Connect

Apache APISIX9.0Visit IBM API Connect8.8Visit

Higher score Apache APISIX #4 in Apis 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Apache APISIX

vs

IBM API Connect #6 in Apis 8.8/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 2 of 4 features Visit IBM

• Apache APISIX fits best

  Teams wanting a capable open-source gateway

• IBM API Connect fits best

  Enterprises managing APIs across environments

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Side by side

Feature	Apache APISIX 9.0/10 Visit ↗	IBM API Connect 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.8
Ranking	#4 in Apis	#6 in Apis
Best for	Teams wanting a capable open-source gateway	Enterprises managing APIs across environments
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	$83/mo
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Linux	Web
Support	Community, Docs	Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache APISIX 0/4 · IBM API Connect 2/4
API gateway	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Developer portal	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
API analytics	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
API testing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment options	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported protocols	HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, UDP, WebSocket, gRPC, MQTT, HTTP/3, Dubbo	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Dynamic routing, load balancing, authentication, and rate limiting Supports HTTP, gRPC, MQTT, WebSocket, TCP, UDP, and HTTP/3 100+ plugins plus Kubernetes Ingress and Gateway API integration	Covers API design, testing, versioning, publication, and governance Offers cloud and self-managed deployment choices Includes a Developer Portal, analytics, and API monetization
Cons	Self-hosted deployment puts infrastructure operations on your team Support channels are community and documentation Focuses on gateway functions rather than a full API lifecycle suite	Standard Tier starts at $83 per month with annual billing Plan options span AWS, IBM Cloud, and self-managed deployments Integrations are not specified in the product description
Our verdict	Apache APISIX is an open-source API and AI gateway for teams running APIs, microservices, and multi-protocol traffic in cloud-native environments. Its core covers dynamic routing, load balancing, authentication, configurable rate limiting,… Read the review →	IBM API Connect brings API design, testing, security, publication, governance, analytics, and monetization into one management platform. Its feature set is aimed at mid-market and enterprise organizations coordinating API programs across… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Apache APISIX — where it wins

  • Dynamic routing, load balancing, authentication, and rate limiting
  • Supports HTTP, gRPC, MQTT, WebSocket, TCP, UDP, and HTTP/3
  • 100+ plugins plus Kubernetes Ingress and Gateway API integration

  Where it doesn't

  • Self-hosted deployment puts infrastructure operations on your team
  • Support channels are community and documentation
  • Focuses on gateway functions rather than a full API lifecycle suite

• IBM API Connect — where it wins

  • Covers API design, testing, versioning, publication, and governance
  • Offers cloud and self-managed deployment choices
  • Includes a Developer Portal, analytics, and API monetization

  Where it doesn't

  • Standard Tier starts at $83 per month with annual billing
  • Plan options span AWS, IBM Cloud, and self-managed deployments
  • Integrations are not specified in the product description

• Apache APISIX9.0/10 · Free plan

  A self-hosted gateway with broad protocol support, plugins, and Kubernetes integration.

  Visit Apache APISIXFull verdict →
• IBM API Connect8.8/10 · 30-day trial

  Broad API lifecycle tooling with SaaS and self-managed deployment options.

  Visit IBMFull verdict →