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Head-to-head · API Gateway Software

Azure API Management vs Apache APISIX

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Azure API Management #1 in API Gateway Software 2.8/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 2 features Visit site
Apache APISIX #3 in API Gateway Software —/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Apache APISIX

Azure API Management leads on 0 checks, Apache APISIX on 3, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAzure API Management · 2.8/10
  • Free planonly Apache APISIX
  • Most featuresApache APISIX · 2 of 2

Our editors rank Azure API Management at #1 and Apache APISIX at #3 for api gateway software; Apache APISIX has no rubric score yet (facts researched, not yet scored), so the checks below decide.

Apache APISIX offers free plan; Azure API Management doesn't. On deployment model, Azure API Management gives you Hybrid where Apache APISIX offers Self-hosted. Apache APISIX offers rate limiting; Azure API Management doesn't publish it. Apache APISIX offers request transformation; Azure API Management doesn't publish it.

Azure API Management is the better fit for enterprises needing full API lifecycle management. Apache APISIX is the better fit for open-source teams wanting broad protocol support.

  • Azure API Management fits best

    Enterprises needing full API lifecycle management

  • Apache APISIX fits best

    Open-source teams wanting broad protocol support

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Azure API Management 2.8/10 Visit ↗ Apache APISIX —/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 2.8 —
Ranking #1 in API Gateway Software #3 in API Gateway Software
Best for Enterprises needing full API lifecycle management Open-source teams wanting broad protocol support
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web Linux
Support Docs Community, Docs
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Azure API Management 0/2 · Apache APISIX 2/2
Rate limiting Not published ✓ (best)
Request transformation Not published ✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Self-hosted
Supported protocols Not published HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, UDP, WebSocket, gRPC, MQTT, HTTP/3, Dubbo
Authentication methods Not published API key, JWT, Basic Authentication, OAuth 2.0/OpenID Connect, HMAC, LDAP, CAS, Keycloak, Casdoor, forward authentication, multi-auth
Monthly request limit Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Gateway controls cover authentication, routing, caching, throttling, and quotas
  • Developer portal supports discovery, documentation, subscriptions, and testing
  • Self-hosted gateway supports on-premises and multicloud environments
  • Supports HTTP, TCP, UDP, WebSocket, gRPC, MQTT, HTTP/3, and Dubbo
  • Includes routing, load balancing, authentication, rate limiting, and transformations
  • Offers Kubernetes integration, a dashboard, and 100+ gateway and AI plugins
Cons
  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • The Developer tier has no SLA and is for non-production use
  • Isolated is a preview tier for high-isolation enterprise deployments
  • Deployment is self-hosted rather than vendor-hosted
  • Linux is the listed operating-system platform
  • Its broad configuration and plugin surface may require dedicated technical ownership
Our verdict

Azure API Management is a managed platform for securing, governing, publishing, and monitoring APIs across Azure, on-premises environments, and other clouds. It combines an API gateway with lifecycle management, a customizable developer…

Read the review →

Apache APISIX is an open-source API and AI gateway for teams operating APIs, microservices, and multi-protocol traffic in cloud-native environments. It is designed for self-hosted deployment on Linux and supports traditional, decoupled,…

Read the review →
  1. Azure API ManagementAPI Gateway Software 2.8Pricing on request
  2. Apache APISIXAPI Gateway Software —Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Azure API Management — where it wins

    • Gateway controls cover authentication, routing, caching, throttling, and quotas
    • Developer portal supports discovery, documentation, subscriptions, and testing
    • Self-hosted gateway supports on-premises and multicloud environments

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contacting sales
    • The Developer tier has no SLA and is for non-production use
    • Isolated is a preview tier for high-isolation enterprise deployments

  • Apache APISIX — where it wins

    • Supports HTTP, TCP, UDP, WebSocket, gRPC, MQTT, HTTP/3, and Dubbo
    • Includes routing, load balancing, authentication, rate limiting, and transformations
    • Offers Kubernetes integration, a dashboard, and 100+ gateway and AI plugins

    Where it doesn't

    • Deployment is self-hosted rather than vendor-hosted
    • Linux is the listed operating-system platform
    • Its broad configuration and plugin surface may require dedicated technical ownership
  • Azure API Management2.8/10 · Pricing on request

    A full-lifecycle API platform for enterprises with hybrid deployment needs.

    Visit siteFull verdict →
  • Apache APISIX—/10 · Free plan

    A self-hosted gateway for teams needing broad protocol support and extensible traffic controls.

    Visit Apache APISIXFull verdict →

More comparisons

All API gateway software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026