Apache APISIX vs WSO2 API Manager

Apache APISIX7.4Visit WAWSO2 API Manager6.8Visit

Higher score Apache APISIX #4 in Apis 7.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Apache APISIX

vs

WA WSO2 API Manager #8 in Apis 6.8/10 Open source · 30-day trial ✓ 2 of 4 features Visit WSO2

• Apache APISIX fits best

  Teams wanting a capable open-source gateway

• WSO2 API Manager fits best

  Teams managing APIs on their own infrastructure

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Side by side

Feature	Apache APISIX 7.4/10 Visit ↗	WAWSO2 API Manager 6.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.4	6.8
Ranking	#4 in Apis	#8 in Apis
Best for	Teams wanting a capable open-source gateway	Teams managing APIs on their own infrastructure
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Platforms	Linux	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Integrations	5 integrations	5 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache APISIX 0/4 · WSO2 API Manager 2/4
API gateway	Not published	Not published
Developer portal	Not published	✓ (best)
API analytics	Not published	✓ (best)
API testing	Not published	Not published
Specs
Deployment options	Not published	Not published
Supported protocols	HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, UDP, WebSocket, gRPC, MQTT, HTTP/3, Dubbo	Not published
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	Manages APIs from creation through deprecation and retirement Combines gateway policies with publisher and developer portals Supports REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and Webhook APIs
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	Requires self-hosted deployment Listed integrations are limited to five platforms Enterprise pricing is custom
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 →	WSO2 API Manager is an open-source API management server for organizations that want to design, secure, publish, govern, and monitor APIs on their own infrastructure. It suits mid-market and enterprise teams, particularly those that need… 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

• WSO2 API Manager — where it wins

  • Manages APIs from creation through deprecation and retirement
  • Combines gateway policies with publisher and developer portals
  • Supports REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and Webhook APIs

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires self-hosted deployment
  • Listed integrations are limited to five platforms
  • Enterprise pricing is custom

• Apache APISIX7.4/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit Apache APISIXFull verdict →
• WAWSO2 API Manager6.8/10 · Open source · 30-day trial

  A lifecycle-focused API manager for teams that need deployment on their own infrastructure.

  Visit WSO2Full verdict →