Envoy Proxy vs Kong: 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 Envoy Proxy and Kong 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:
Envoy Proxy
Open-source edge and service proxy, a CNCF graduated project, used as a data plane for service meshes and API gateways.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Kong requires payment)
Kong
Route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform
Best for you if:
- • You want high performance
| At a Glance | Envoy Proxy | Kong |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan |
Category | DevOps API Tools | API Tools DevOps |
Rating | n/a | 4.2/5 G2 4.4 · Trustpilot 3.4 349 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Envoy Proxy or Kong?
Choose Envoy Proxy if
- You want a fully free tool (Kong requires payment)
- You want open source and a CNCF graduated project
- You want used as the data plane by service meshes and gateways built on top of it
- You work in DevOps, not API tools
Choose Kong if
- You want high performance
- You want extensible plugins
- You work in API tools, not DevOps
In-Depth Analysis
Envoy Proxy
Open-source edge and service proxy, a CNCF graduated project, used as a data plane for service meshes and API gateways.
Envoy Proxy's open source pricing at $0 is extremely generous, as it provides a production-grade edge and service proxy without any licensing fees.
Strengths
- Pro: Open source and a CNCF graduated project
- Pro: Used as the data plane by service meshes and gateways built on top of it
- Pro: Rich traffic management and security features in one proxy
Weaknesses
- Con: It is a proxy, not a full API management product: developer portals, key management and billing come from the products built on it
- Con: Configuration through dynamic APIs and YAML has a learning curve for teams new to it
- Con: Envoy's site does not state a license or a commercial support plan
Key features
Kong
Route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform
Kong's pricing is very generous, offering a fully functional open-source 'Free' tier.
Strengths
- Pro: High performance
- Pro: Extensible plugins
- Pro: Open source
Weaknesses
- Con: Complex setup
- Con: Enterprise features paid
Key features
Plans and prices: Envoy Proxy vs Kong
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Envoy Proxy |
| envoyproxy.io read Oct 21, 2026 |
| Kong |
| konghq.com/pricing read Oct 11, 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 Envoy Proxy pricing and Kong pricing.
Key Takeaways
Envoy Proxy
- Choose if you want open-source edge and service proxy, a CNCF graduated project, used as a data plane for service meshes and API gateways
Kong
- Choose if you want route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform
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.
- Only Kong has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 349 reviews); Envoy Proxy has none we can show.
- 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 Envoy Proxy and Kong 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. Only Kong has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 349 reviews); Envoy Proxy has none we can show. Both have a free plan.
What are Envoy Proxy and Kong used for?
Envoy Proxy: Open-source edge and service proxy, a CNCF graduated project, used as a data plane for service meshes and API gateways. Kong: Route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform.
What does Envoy Proxy cost vs Kong?
Envoy Proxy is free. Kong has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 21, 2026.
What's the main difference between Envoy Proxy and Kong?
Envoy Proxy's main strength: open source and a CNCF graduated project. Kong's main strength: high performance.