AWS API Gateway vs KrakenD: 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 AWS API Gateway and KrakenD side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, KrakenD leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall 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:
AWS API Gateway
Build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support
Best for you if:
- • You want to build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support
KrakenD
The fastest open-source API Gateway for microservices, offering high performance and linear scalability.
| At a Glance | AWS API Gateway | KrakenD |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan |
Category | API Tools Cloud & Infrastructure | API Tools Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.7 156 reviews | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 58 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | REST caching is hourly by cache size (example: 1.6 GB at $0.038/hr). | n/a |
Choose AWS API Gateway or KrakenD?
Choose AWS API Gateway if
- You want to build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support
Choose KrakenD if
- You need API tools features specifically.
In-Depth Analysis
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
KrakenD
The fastest open-source API Gateway for microservices, offering high performance and linear scalability.
KrakenD's pricing is extremely generous with its robust Open Source tier being completely Free.
Strengths
- Pro: Extremely high performance and throughput (80K+ requests/second)
- Pro: Stateless architecture for linear scalability and consistent performance
- Pro: Simplified management with a single binary and GitOps approach
- Pro: Comprehensive features for API management (aggregation, security, traffic control)
- Pro: Transparent and predictable pricing with unlimited requests/APIs
Weaknesses
- Con: No specific cons mentioned in the provided text.
Key features
Plans and prices: AWS API Gateway vs KrakenD
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AWS API Gateway |
| aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/pricing read Sep 30, 2026 |
| KrakenD |
| krakend.io read Nov 1, 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 AWS API Gateway pricing and KrakenD pricing.
Key Takeaways
AWS API Gateway
- Choose AWS API Gateway if you want to build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support
KrakenD
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5
What the data shows
On the data below, KrakenD leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- KrakenD has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 156 reviews for AWS API Gateway, 4.7/5 from 58 reviews for KrakenD).
- 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 AWS API Gateway and KrakenD compare in 2026?
On the data below, KrakenD leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. KrakenD has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 156 reviews for AWS API Gateway, 4.7/5 from 58 reviews for KrakenD). Both have a free plan.
What are AWS API Gateway and KrakenD used for?
AWS API Gateway: Build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support. KrakenD: The fastest open-source API Gateway for microservices, offering high performance and linear scalability.
What does AWS API Gateway cost vs KrakenD?
AWS API Gateway has no public paid-plan price on file. KrakenD has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between AWS API Gateway and KrakenD?
AWS API Gateway's main strength: fully managed, no infrastructure to maintain. KrakenD's main strength: extremely high performance and throughput (80K+ requests/second).
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