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Head-to-head · LLM Gateway Software

Prisma AIRS AI Gateway vs Apache APISIX

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Prisma AIRS AI Gateway #5 in LLM Gateway Software 8.6/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 5 features Contact Palo Alto
Apache APISIX #6 in LLM Gateway Software 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Apache APISIX

Prisma AIRS AI Gateway leads on 0 checks, Apache APISIX on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePrisma AIRS AI Gateway · 8.6/10
  • Free planonly Apache APISIX
  • Most featuresPrisma AIRS AI Gateway · 4 of 5

Prisma AIRS AI Gateway scores higher on our rubric for llm gateway software: 8.6 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.

Prisma AIRS AI Gateway is the better fit for security-focused enterprise AI traffic governance. Apache APISIX is the better fit for self-hosted Kubernetes gateway operators.

  • Prisma AIRS AI Gateway fits best

    Security-focused enterprise AI traffic governance

  • Apache APISIX fits best

    Self-hosted Kubernetes gateway operators

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 Prisma AIRS AI Gateway 8.6/10 Visit ↗ Apache APISIX 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 8.4
Ranking #5 in LLM Gateway Software #6 in LLM Gateway Software
Best for Security-focused enterprise AI traffic governance Self-hosted Kubernetes gateway operators
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price Pricing on request Free plan
Free plan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web Linux
Support Docs Community, Docs
Built for Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Prisma AIRS AI Gateway 4/5 · Apache APISIX 0/5
Fallback routing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Usage analytics ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Self-hosted deployment ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Budget controls ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Virtual API keys ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Provider count Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Tracks AI usage, users, tokens, latency, and cost
  • Combines budgets, quotas, rate limits, routing, and access controls
  • Supports threat inspection, agent identity, MCP, and A2A traffic
  • 100+ gateway and AI plugins with routing and security controls
  • Kubernetes Ingress, Gateway API, and Helm integration
  • Supports HTTP, gRPC, WebSocket, MQTT, TCP, UDP, and HTTP/3
Cons
  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Uses consumption-based token metering and Software NGFW or Flex credits
  • Provider integrations are not verified
  • Self-hosted deployment requires teams to operate the gateway
  • Community and documentation are the listed support channels
  • The broad feature set may require more gateway administration
Our verdict

Prisma AIRS AI Gateway is an enterprise control plane for AI applications, agents, copilots, LLM traffic, MCP interactions, and agent-to-agent communication. It is aimed at organizations that need centralized oversight of AI traffic…

Read the review →

Apache APISIX is an open-source API and AI gateway for teams operating APIs, microservices, and multi-protocol traffic in cloud-native environments. Its fit is strongest for small, mid-market, and enterprise teams that want to run their…

Read the review →
  1. Prisma AIRS AI GatewayLLM Gateway Software 8.6Pricing on request
  2. Apache APISIXLLM Gateway Software 8.4Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Prisma AIRS AI Gateway — where it wins

    • Tracks AI usage, users, tokens, latency, and cost
    • Combines budgets, quotas, rate limits, routing, and access controls
    • Supports threat inspection, agent identity, MCP, and A2A traffic

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contacting sales
    • Uses consumption-based token metering and Software NGFW or Flex credits
    • Provider integrations are not verified

  • Apache APISIX — where it wins

    • 100+ gateway and AI plugins with routing and security controls
    • Kubernetes Ingress, Gateway API, and Helm integration
    • Supports HTTP, gRPC, WebSocket, MQTT, TCP, UDP, and HTTP/3

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires teams to operate the gateway
    • Community and documentation are the listed support channels
    • The broad feature set may require more gateway administration
  • Prisma AIRS AI Gateway8.6/10 · Pricing on request

    A security-focused gateway for governing enterprise AI traffic, agents, and model access.

    Contact Palo AltoFull verdict →
  • Apache APISIX8.4/10 · Free plan

    A flexible self-hosted gateway for Kubernetes teams managing APIs, AI traffic, and multiple protocols.

    Visit Apache APISIXFull verdict →

More comparisons

All LLM gateway software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update