Head-to-head · Kubernetes Ingress Controllers
Kong Ingress Controller vs LiteSpeed Ingress Controller
Kong Ingress Controller leads on 1 check, LiteSpeed Ingress Controller on 0, and 5 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 planonly Kong Ingress Controller
- Free trialonly LiteSpeed Ingress Controller
- Most featuresLiteSpeed Ingress Controller · 5 of 5
Kong Ingress Controller scores higher on our rubric for kubernetes ingress controllers: 9.1 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #14.
Kong Ingress Controller offers free plan; LiteSpeed Ingress Controller doesn't. On deployment model, Kong Ingress Controller gives you Both where LiteSpeed Ingress Controller offers Self-hosted.
Kong Ingress Controller is the better fit for kong-integrated Kubernetes API platforms. LiteSpeed Ingress Controller is the better fit for paid teams wanting comprehensive ingress controls.
- Kong Ingress Controller fits best
Kong-integrated Kubernetes API platforms
- LiteSpeed Ingress Controller fits best
Paid teams wanting comprehensive ingress controls
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Side by side
| Feature | Kong Ingress Controller 9.1/10 Visit ↗ | LiteSpeed Ingress Controller 8.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.1 | 8.0 |
| Ranking | #3 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers | #14 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers |
| Best for | Kong-integrated Kubernetes API platforms | Paid teams wanting comprehensive ingress controls |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free plan | $715/yr |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | 15 days |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Cloud | Self-hosted, Cloud |
| Platforms | Linux | Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs | Email, Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 5 integrations | 4 integrations |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Kong Ingress Controller 3/5 · LiteSpeed Ingress Controller 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 | ||
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| 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 → |
LiteSpeed Ingress Controller is a self-hosted Kubernetes application delivery controller and load balancer built on the LiteSpeed Web ADC engine. It is intended for teams running Kubernetes infrastructure that need licensed ingress… Read the review → |
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
LiteSpeed Ingress Controller — where it wins
- Supports both Kubernetes Ingress resources and Gateway API resources
- Combines TLS automation, canary routing, WAF, throttling, and authentication
- Handles HTTP/2, HTTP/3, QUIC, and Kubernetes service load balancing
Where it doesn't
- No permanent free plan is available
- Requires a self-hosted deployment on Linux
- Uses a licensed Web ADC engine rather than an open-source model
- Kong Ingress Controller9.1/10 · Free plan
A free, extensible choice for Kong-centered Kubernetes API platforms.
Visit KongFull verdict → - LiteSpeed Ingress Controller8.0/10 · 15-day trial
A paid, self-hosted controller with broad Kubernetes traffic, security, and protocol controls.
Visit LiteSpeedFull verdict →
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All kubernetes ingress controllers comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update