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Head-to-head · Kubernetes Ingress Controllers

Kong Ingress Controller vs HAProxy Ingress

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Kong Ingress Controller #3 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Kong
HAProxy Ingress #5 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Try HAProxy Ingress

Kong Ingress Controller leads on 0 checks, HAProxy Ingress 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 scoreKong Ingress Controller · 9.1/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresHAProxy Ingress · 5 of 5

Kong Ingress Controller scores higher on our rubric for kubernetes ingress controllers: 9.1 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.

On deployment model, Kong Ingress Controller gives you Both where HAProxy Ingress offers Self-hosted.

Kong Ingress Controller is the better fit for kong-integrated Kubernetes API platforms. HAProxy Ingress is the better fit for teams needing full-featured Kubernetes ingress.

  • Kong Ingress Controller fits best

    Kong-integrated Kubernetes API platforms

  • HAProxy Ingress fits best

    Teams needing full-featured Kubernetes ingress

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 Kong Ingress Controller 9.1/10 Visit ↗ HAProxy Ingress 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 8.9
Ranking #3 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers #5 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers
Best for Kong-integrated Kubernetes API platforms Teams needing full-featured Kubernetes ingress
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Cloud Self-hosted
Platforms Linux Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 5 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Kong Ingress Controller 3/5 · HAProxy Ingress 5/5
TLS automation ✓ ✓
Canary routing Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Rate limiting ✓ ✓
Web application firewall Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Auth policies ✓ ✓
Specs
Ingress API model Both Both
Deployment model Both Self-hosted
Our review
Pros
  • Supports both Kubernetes Ingress and Gateway API resources
  • Combines routing, health checks, rate limiting, auth, and TLS handling
  • Connects with Kong Gateway, Konnect, Operator, and cert-manager
  • Supports both Kubernetes Ingress resources and Gateway API
  • Automates ACME certificate issuance and renewal
  • Adds canary routing, rate limits, authentication, and WAF integrations
Cons
  • The Kong Canary Release plugin is not suitable for Kubernetes-native use
  • Its Kong ecosystem model may exceed simple ingress requirements
  • Custom plugins and broad policy controls suit platform teams more than casual use
  • Self-hosted deployment requires Kubernetes and Linux infrastructure
  • HAProxy-based configuration may be more than simple ingress needs
  • Commercial pricing and managed hosting are not part of the offering
Our verdict

Kong Ingress Controller runs Kong Gateway in Kubernetes and translates Kubernetes Ingress, HTTPRoute, and other Gateway API resources into Kong Gateway configuration. It is designed for platform and infrastructure teams managing Kubernetes…

Read the review →

HAProxy Ingress is an open-source Kubernetes ingress controller for routing external HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP traffic to applications running in a cluster. It fits teams that want broad traffic-management capabilities while keeping deployment…

Read the review →
  1. Kong Ingress ControllerKubernetes Ingress Controllers 9.1Free plan
  2. HAProxy IngressKubernetes Ingress Controllers 8.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Kong Ingress Controller — where it wins

    • Supports both Kubernetes Ingress and Gateway API resources
    • Combines routing, health checks, rate limiting, auth, and TLS handling
    • Connects with Kong Gateway, Konnect, Operator, and cert-manager

    Where it doesn't

    • The Kong Canary Release plugin is not suitable for Kubernetes-native use
    • Its Kong ecosystem model may exceed simple ingress requirements
    • Custom plugins and broad policy controls suit platform teams more than casual use

  • HAProxy Ingress — where it wins

    • Supports both Kubernetes Ingress resources and Gateway API
    • Automates ACME certificate issuance and renewal
    • Adds canary routing, rate limits, authentication, and WAF integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires Kubernetes and Linux infrastructure
    • HAProxy-based configuration may be more than simple ingress needs
    • Commercial pricing and managed hosting are not part of the offering

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