Gravitee API Gateway vs Higress

Gravitee API Gateway8.0Visit Higress7.2Visit

Higher score Gravitee API Gateway #15 in API Gateway Software 8.0/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Gravitee

vs

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

• Gravitee API Gateway fits best

  Hybrid enterprises needing protocol-rich API management

• Higress fits best

  Open-source Kubernetes and AI gateway teams

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Side by side

Feature	Gravitee API Gateway 8.0/10 Visit ↗	Higress 7.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.0	7.2
Ranking	#15 in API Gateway Software	#23 in API Gateway Software
Best for	Hybrid enterprises needing protocol-rich API management	Open-source Kubernetes and AI gateway teams
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	$2,500/mo	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	14 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Community, Docs · 24/7	Community, Docs
Integrations	11 integrations	8 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Gravitee API Gateway 2/2 · Higress 2/2
Rate limiting	✓	✓
Request transformation	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment model	Hybrid	Hybrid
Supported protocols	REST, GraphQL, gRPC, SOAP, WebSocket, Server-sent Events, Webhook	HTTP, HTTP2, HTTPS, GRPC, GRPCS, TCP, Dubbo
Authentication methods	Keyless, API Key, Basic Authentication, OAuth2, JWT, Push, mutual TLS (mTLS), OIDC, SAML	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 REST, GraphQL, gRPC, SOAP, WebSocket, SSE, and webhooks Combines authentication, traffic controls, mediation, resilience, and threat protection Offers cloud-hosted, self-hosted, and hybrid deployment with broad integrations	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	Planet starts at $2,500 per month Galaxy and Universe use contact-based pricing Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of narrow API gateway deployments	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	Gravitee API Gateway is a runtime gateway and policy engine for organizations managing APIs across REST, GraphQL, gRPC, SOAP, WebSocket, server-sent events, webhooks, and event brokers. It fits hybrid enterprises that need centralized… 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

• Gravitee API Gateway — where it wins

  • Supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, SOAP, WebSocket, SSE, and webhooks
  • Combines authentication, traffic controls, mediation, resilience, and threat protection
  • Offers cloud-hosted, self-hosted, and hybrid deployment with broad integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Planet starts at $2,500 per month
  • Galaxy and Universe use contact-based pricing
  • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of narrow API gateway deployments

• 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

• Gravitee API Gateway8.0/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  A protocol-rich API gateway for hybrid estates, with paid plans starting at $2,500 monthly.

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

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

  Visit HigressFull verdict →