Apache APISIX vs AWS API Gateway: 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 AWS API Gateway side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
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 (AWS API Gateway requires payment)
AWS API Gateway
Build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support
Best for you if:
- • You want fully managed, no infrastructure to maintain
| At a Glance | Apache APISIX | AWS API Gateway |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan |
Category | API Tools Cloud & Infrastructure | API Tools Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | 4.8/5 G2 4.8 5 reviews | 4.4/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.7 156 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | REST caching is hourly by cache size (example: 1.6 GB at $0.038/hr). |
Choose Apache APISIX or AWS API Gateway?
Choose Apache APISIX if
- You want a fully free tool (AWS API Gateway requires payment)
- You want ultimate performance with low latency (0.2 ms)
- You want robust security features for identity authentication and API verification
Choose AWS API Gateway if
- You want fully managed, no infrastructure to maintain
- You want native integration with Lambda, DynamoDB, and other AWS services
In-Depth Analysis
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
AWS API Gateway
Build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support
API Gateway is usage-priced.
Watch out
REST caching is hourly by cache size (example: 1.6 GB at $0.038/hr).
Strengths
- Pro: Fully managed, no infrastructure to maintain
- Pro: Native integration with Lambda, DynamoDB, and other AWS services
- Pro: Free tier includes 1M API calls/month for 12 months
- Pro: HTTP APIs offer significant cost savings for simple use cases
- Pro: Global edge network reduces latency
Weaknesses
- Con: Vendor lock-in to AWS ecosystem
- Con: Pricing complexity across REST vs HTTP vs WebSocket
- Con: 29-second timeout limit on API calls
- Con: Cold start latency when paired with Lambda
- Con: REST API pricing ($3.50/M) is expensive at scale
Key features
Plans and prices: Apache APISIX vs AWS API Gateway
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Apache APISIX | No plan prices on file | apisix.apache.org |
| AWS API Gateway |
| aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/pricing read Sep 30, 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 AWS API Gateway pricing.
Key Takeaways
Apache APISIX
- Choose if you want cloud-native API Gateway and AI Gateway for managing APIs and AI workloads
AWS API Gateway
- Choose if you want build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.8/5 from 5 reviews for Apache APISIX, 4.4/5 from 156 reviews for AWS API Gateway; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Both have 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 AWS API Gateway compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.8/5 from 5 reviews for Apache APISIX, 4.4/5 from 156 reviews for AWS API Gateway; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Both have a free plan.
What are Apache APISIX and AWS API Gateway used for?
Apache APISIX: Cloud-native API Gateway and AI Gateway for managing APIs and AI workloads. AWS API Gateway: Build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support.
What does Apache APISIX cost vs AWS API Gateway?
Apache APISIX is free. AWS API Gateway has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Sep 30, 2026.
What's the main difference between Apache APISIX and AWS API Gateway?
Apache APISIX's main strength: ultimate performance with low latency (0.2 ms). AWS API Gateway's main strength: fully managed, no infrastructure to maintain.