Istio vs Kong: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Istio and Kong comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Istio
Easily build cloud native workloads securely and reliably with Istio, with or without sidecars.
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.8/10 vs 8.4/10)
- • You need something completely free
- • You need ci/cd features specifically
- • Open-source service mesh for Kubernetes and traditional workloads.
- • Provides security (mTLS, zero-trust), observability, and traffic management.
Kong
API gateway and platform
Best for you if:
- • You need api tools features specifically
- • Kong is an API gateway and platform for managing, securing, and monitoring APIs
- • It provides rate limiting, authentication, and traffic control for microservices
| At a Glance |  Istio |  Kong |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | CI/CD | API Tools |
Rating | 88/100 | 84/100 |
| Feature | Istio | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 88 | 84 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | CI/CDInfrastructure as Code | API ToolsHosting & Deployment |
How Istio and Kong Compare
Istio
Easily build cloud native workloads securely and reliably with Istio, with or without sidecars.
Free · 88/100 score
Kong
API gateway and platform
Free tier available · 84/100 score
Istio is a ci/cd tool. Kong is in api tools.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Istio is free. Kong is freemium.
Go with: Istio
Want the highest-rated option?
Istio: 88/100. Kong: 84/100.
Go with: Istio
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Istio
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Istio is free. Kong is freemium. Go with Istio if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Istio is a ci/cd tool. Kong is in api tools. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Istio scores higher: 88/100 vs 84/100.
Key Takeaways
Istio
- Higher score: 88/100 vs 84
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Kong
- Better fit for api tools
The Bottom Line
Istio (88/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istio or Kong better?
Istio scores 88/100 in our evaluation. Istio is free and Kong is freemium.
What are Istio and Kong used for?
Istio: Easily build cloud native workloads securely and reliably with Istio, with or without sidecars.. Kong: API gateway and platform.
What does Istio cost vs Kong?
Istio is completely free. Kong is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.