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Head-to-head · Kubernetes Ingress Controllers

kgateway vs Airlock Microgateway

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score kgateway #6 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit kgateway
Airlock Microgateway #12 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Airlock

kgateway leads on 0 checks, Airlock Microgateway on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorekgateway · 8.8/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featureskgateway · 5 of 5

kgateway scores higher on our rubric for kubernetes ingress controllers: 8.8 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #12.

kgateway is the better fit for gateway API teams needing security controls. Airlock Microgateway is the better fit for security-focused Kubernetes gateway deployments.

  • kgateway fits best

    Gateway API teams needing security controls

  • Airlock Microgateway fits best

    Security-focused Kubernetes gateway deployments

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature kgateway 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Airlock Microgateway 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.2
Ranking #6 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers #12 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers
Best for Gateway API teams needing security controls Security-focused Kubernetes gateway deployments
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs, Tickets, Phone
Integrations 4 integrations 10 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features kgateway 5/5 · Airlock Microgateway 4/5
TLS automation ✓ ✓
Canary routing ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Rate limiting ✓ ✓
Web application firewall ✓ ✓
Auth policies ✓ ✓
Specs
Ingress API model Both Both
Deployment model Self-hosted Self-hosted
Our review
Pros
  • Free open-source Gateway API implementation
  • Weighted routing, canary splitting, and rate limiting
  • Authentication, TLS automation, and WAF support
  • Free Community Edition supports unlimited requests with no license required
  • Combines TLS, mTLS, rate limiting, filtering, and authentication
  • Integrates with Kubernetes, OpenShift, Istio, Cilium, Helm, and observability tools
Cons
  • Self-hosted deployment requires a Kubernetes environment
  • Integration coverage centers on a focused set of platforms
  • No AI features are included
  • Self-hosted deployment requires a Kubernetes environment
  • Premium Edition uses license-based pricing
  • Community Edition provides community support rather than Airlock support
Our verdict

kgateway is an open-source Kubernetes-native ingress controller and API gateway for teams managing service, API, serverless, or legacy application traffic in Kubernetes. It implements the Kubernetes Gateway API and uses Envoy as its proxy…

Read the review →

Airlock Microgateway is a self-hosted Kubernetes gateway for teams routing application and API traffic inside Kubernetes environments. It supports Ingress and Kubernetes Gateway API deployment patterns, reverse-proxy routing, TLS…

Read the review →
  1. kgatewayKubernetes Ingress Controllers 8.8Free plan
  2. Airlock MicrogatewayKubernetes Ingress Controllers 8.2Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • kgateway — where it wins

    • Free open-source Gateway API implementation
    • Weighted routing, canary splitting, and rate limiting
    • Authentication, TLS automation, and WAF support

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires a Kubernetes environment
    • Integration coverage centers on a focused set of platforms
    • No AI features are included

  • Airlock Microgateway — where it wins

    • Free Community Edition supports unlimited requests with no license required
    • Combines TLS, mTLS, rate limiting, filtering, and authentication
    • Integrates with Kubernetes, OpenShift, Istio, Cilium, Helm, and observability tools

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires a Kubernetes environment
    • Premium Edition uses license-based pricing
    • Community Edition provides community support rather than Airlock support
  • kgateway8.8/10 · Free plan

    A focused open-source Gateway API gateway for teams needing routing, security, and traffic controls.

    Visit kgatewayFull verdict →
  • Airlock Microgateway8.2/10 · Free plan

    A security-focused self-hosted gateway with a capable free Community Edition.

    Visit AirlockFull verdict →

More comparisons

All kubernetes ingress controllers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update