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Head-to-head · API Management Software

Azure API Management vs Kong Konnect

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 7 checks side by side
Higher score Azure API Management #2 in API Management Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request ✓ 6 of 6 features Visit site
Kong Konnect #6 in API Management Software 8.7/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Kong Konnect

Azure API Management leads on 0 checks, Kong Konnect on 0, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 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 · 9.3/10
  • Free trialonly Kong Konnect

Azure API Management scores higher on our rubric for api management software: 9.3 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

Azure API Management is the better fit for enterprises needing broad hybrid API management. Kong Konnect is the better fit for flexible cloud and self-hosted gateway teams.

  • Azure API Management fits best

    Enterprises needing broad hybrid API management

  • Kong Konnect fits best

    Flexible cloud and self-hosted gateway teams

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Side by side

Feature Azure API Management 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Kong Konnect 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.7
Ranking #2 in API Management Software #6 in API Management Software
Best for Enterprises needing broad hybrid API management Flexible cloud and self-hosted gateway teams
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — $25/unit/mo
Free plan — —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs Email, Live chat, Tickets, Docs
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Azure API Management 6/6 · Kong Konnect 6/6
Developer portal ✓ ✓
Lifecycle management ✓ ✓
Access policies ✓ ✓
API analytics ✓ ✓
API catalog ✓ ✓
API product management ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Hybrid
Our review
Pros
  • Hybrid deployment with a self-hosted containerized gateway
  • Developer portal, API products, subscriptions, and discovery
  • Gateway policies, analytics, monitoring, and lifecycle management
  • Supports hosted, hybrid, dedicated cloud, serverless, and self-hosted data planes
  • Combines developer portals, API catalogs, products, policies, and analytics
  • Offers a 30-day trial with enterprise functionality and no Gateway limits
Cons
  • No free plan is listed
  • Developer tier has no SLA and is for non-production use
  • Pricing requires contact with sales
  • There is no permanent free plan
  • Plus pricing varies by gateway resource and usage components
  • Advanced deployments reach $200 or $500 per control plane monthly
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 is designed for enterprises that need more than gateway controls, combining…

Read the review →

Kong Konnect is a cloud-managed API management platform for organizations that need to build, operate, discover, govern, and publish APIs. It combines a hosted control plane with Kong-managed or customer-hosted data planes, supporting…

Read the review →
  1. Azure API ManagementAPI Management Software 9.3Pricing on request
  2. Kong KonnectAPI Management Software 8.730-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Azure API Management — where it wins

    • Hybrid deployment with a self-hosted containerized gateway
    • Developer portal, API products, subscriptions, and discovery
    • Gateway policies, analytics, monitoring, and lifecycle management

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan is listed
    • Developer tier has no SLA and is for non-production use
    • Pricing requires contact with sales

  • Kong Konnect — where it wins

    • Supports hosted, hybrid, dedicated cloud, serverless, and self-hosted data planes
    • Combines developer portals, API catalogs, products, policies, and analytics
    • Offers a 30-day trial with enterprise functionality and no Gateway limits

    Where it doesn't

    • There is no permanent free plan
    • Plus pricing varies by gateway resource and usage components
    • Advanced deployments reach $200 or $500 per control plane monthly
  • Azure API Management9.3/10 · Pricing on request

    Broad hybrid API management with gateway, lifecycle, portal, analytics, and discovery capabilities.

    Visit siteFull verdict →
  • Kong Konnect8.7/10 · 30-day trial

    A flexible API management platform for teams balancing cloud, hybrid, and self-hosted gateways.

    Visit Kong KonnectFull verdict →

More comparisons

All API management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update