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Head-to-head · Kubernetes Ingress Controllers

NGINX Ingress Controller vs kgateway

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score NGINX Ingress Controller #2 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit NGINX
kgateway #6 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit kgateway

NGINX Ingress Controller leads on 0 checks, kgateway 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 scoreNGINX Ingress Controller · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth

NGINX Ingress Controller scores higher on our rubric for kubernetes ingress controllers: 9.2 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

On ingress api model, kgateway gives you Both where NGINX Ingress Controller offers Ingress.

NGINX Ingress Controller is the better fit for organizations standardizing on NGINX ingress. kgateway is the better fit for gateway API teams needing security controls.

  • NGINX Ingress Controller fits best

    Organizations standardizing on NGINX ingress

  • kgateway fits best

    Gateway API teams needing security controls

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Side by side

Feature NGINX Ingress Controller 9.2/10 Visit ↗ kgateway 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.8
Ranking #2 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers #6 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers
Best for Organizations standardizing on NGINX ingress Gateway API teams needing security controls
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 5 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features NGINX Ingress Controller 5/5 · kgateway 5/5
TLS automation ✓ ✓
Canary routing ✓ ✓
Rate limiting ✓ ✓
Web application firewall ✓ ✓
Auth policies ✓ ✓
Specs
Ingress API model Ingress Both
Deployment model Self-hosted Self-hosted
Our review
Pros
  • Free open-source controller for self-hosted Kubernetes deployments
  • Supports routing, TLS, canary, blue-green, rate limiting, and auth policies
  • Integrates with NGINX Plus, F5 WAF for NGINX, cert-manager, and Prometheus
  • Free open-source Gateway API implementation
  • Weighted routing, canary splitting, and rate limiting
  • Authentication, TLS automation, and WAF support
Cons
  • Requires a Kubernetes environment and operator-managed deployment
  • NGINX Plus commercial features require a subscription
  • Its verified ingress API model is centered on Ingress
  • Self-hosted deployment requires a Kubernetes environment
  • Integration coverage centers on a focused set of platforms
  • No AI features are included
Our verdict

NGINX Ingress Controller is a Kubernetes controller for NGINX and NGINX Plus, designed for platform teams and operators managing application traffic at the cluster edge. It runs inside a Kubernetes cluster and routes HTTP applications…

Read the review →

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 →
  1. NGINX Ingress ControllerKubernetes Ingress Controllers 9.2Free plan
  2. kgatewayKubernetes Ingress Controllers 8.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • NGINX Ingress Controller — where it wins

    • Free open-source controller for self-hosted Kubernetes deployments
    • Supports routing, TLS, canary, blue-green, rate limiting, and auth policies
    • Integrates with NGINX Plus, F5 WAF for NGINX, cert-manager, and Prometheus

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires a Kubernetes environment and operator-managed deployment
    • NGINX Plus commercial features require a subscription
    • Its verified ingress API model is centered on Ingress

  • 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
  • NGINX Ingress Controller9.2/10 · Free plan

    A free, self-hosted controller for routing, TLS, traffic policies, and edge integrations.

    Visit NGINXFull verdict →
  • kgateway8.8/10 · Free plan

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

    Visit kgatewayFull 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