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Apache APISIX vs Apigee: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)

Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Apache APISIX and Apigee side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.

On the data: On the data below, Apache APISIX leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

Data comparison compiled by Toolradar, not hand-reviewed Methodology
Data comparison 25 user reviews compared Pricing checked Oct 26, 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:

Apache APISIX

Cloud-native API Gateway and AI Gateway for managing APIs and AI workloads.

Best for you if:

  • • You want a fully free tool (Apigee requires payment)

Apigee

Design, secure, and scale your APIs with enterprise-grade management

Best for you if:

  • • You want enterprise-grade
At a glance: Apache APISIX vs Apigee
At a Glance
Apache APISIX Apache APISIX
Apigee Apigee
Starts at
Free 100% free
Not published
Category
API Tools Cloud & Infrastructure
API Tools Security
Rating
4.8/5 G2 4.8 5 reviews 4.5/5 G2 4.5 20 reviews
Free plan
Yes No

Choose Apache APISIX or Apigee?

Apache APISIX

Choose Apache APISIX if

  • You want a fully free tool (Apigee requires payment)
  • You want ultimate performance with low latency (0.2 ms)
  • You want robust security features for identity authentication and API verification
Apigee

Choose Apigee if

  • You want enterprise-grade
  • You want google Cloud integration

In-Depth Analysis

Apache APISIX Apache APISIX

Cloud-native API Gateway and AI Gateway for managing APIs and AI workloads.

Strengths

  • Pro: Ultimate performance with low latency (0.2 ms)
  • Pro: Robust security features for identity authentication and API verification
  • Pro: High scalability and availability with customizability
  • Pro: Fully dynamic with hot updates and hot-loading plugins, saving development time
  • Pro: Platform and protocol agnostic, avoiding vendor lock-in

Weaknesses

  • Con: Requires familiarity with NGINX and etcd for advanced configurations
  • Con: Steep learning curve for new users due to extensive features and plugins

Key features

Load balancing Dynamic upstream Canary release Circuit breaking Authentication (JWT, Key Auth, OIDC, Keycloak) Observability (Prometheus, Grafana, Apache Skywalking integration)

Apigee Apigee

Design, secure, and scale your APIs with enterprise-grade management

Fair value

The Pay-as-you-go option seems reasonable for small-scale use, but the lack of transparent pricing for Standard, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus suggests it's an expensive, enterprise-focused solution.

Strengths

  • Pro: Enterprise-grade
  • Pro: Google Cloud integration
  • Pro: Advanced analytics

Weaknesses

  • Con: Expensive
  • Con: Complex setup

Key features

API management Analytics Security Developer portal Monetization Google Cloud integration

Plans and prices: Apache APISIX vs Apigee

Plans and prices of Apache APISIX and Apigee, as read on each vendor's pricing page. Each plan keeps its own billing unit.
Tool Plans and prices Source
Apache APISIX No plan prices on file apisix.apache.org
Apigee
  • Pay-as-you-go: Usage-based, one-time or minimum-commitment pricing
  • Standard: Custom pricing
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing
  • Enterprise Plus: Custom pricing
cloud.google.com/apigee/pricing read Oct 26, 2026

Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Apache APISIX pricing and Apigee pricing.

Key Takeaways

Apache APISIX

  • Has a free plan

Apigee

  • Choose if you want design, secure, and scale your APIs with enterprise-grade management

What the data shows

On the data below, Apache APISIX leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

  • User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.8/5 from 5 reviews for Apache APISIX, 4.5/5 from 20 reviews for Apigee; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
  • Only Apache APISIX has a free plan.

Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Apache APISIX and Apigee compare in 2026?

On the data below, Apache APISIX leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.8/5 from 5 reviews for Apache APISIX, 4.5/5 from 20 reviews for Apigee; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Only Apache APISIX has a free plan.

What are Apache APISIX and Apigee used for?

Apache APISIX: Cloud-native API Gateway and AI Gateway for managing APIs and AI workloads. Apigee: Design, secure, and scale your APIs with enterprise-grade management.

What does Apache APISIX cost vs Apigee?

Apache APISIX is free. Apigee has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 26, 2026.

What's the main difference between Apache APISIX and Apigee?

Apache APISIX's main strength: ultimate performance with low latency (0.2 ms). Apigee's main strength: enterprise-grade.

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