Kong vs Solo.io Gloo: 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 Kong and Solo.io Gloo 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:
Kong
Route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform
Best for you if:
- • You want to route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform
Solo.io Gloo
Reimagining infrastructure for cloud and AI with advanced API management and service mesh solutions.
Best for you if:
- • You want a tool that unifies API management across diverse environments and traffic types
| At a Glance | Kong | Solo.io Gloo |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Not published |
Category | API Tools DevOps | API Tools Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.4 · Trustpilot 3.4 349 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Kong or Solo.io Gloo?
Choose Kong if
- You want to route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform
Choose Solo.io Gloo if
- You want a tool that unifies API management across diverse environments and traffic types
- You want a tool that simplifies complex service mesh deployments with enterprise support for Istio and Ambient Mesh
In-Depth Analysis
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
Solo.io Gloo
Reimagining infrastructure for cloud and AI with advanced API management and service mesh solutions.
Strengths
- Pro: Unifies API management across diverse environments and traffic types.
- Pro: Simplifies complex service mesh deployments with enterprise support for Istio and Ambient Mesh.
- Pro: Leverages open-source foundations (Envoy, kGateway) for flexibility and innovation.
- Pro: Enhances security with zero-trust principles applied to all API traffic.
- Pro: Reduces operational overhead and improves developer experience in cloud-native settings.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires expertise in cloud-native technologies like Kubernetes, Envoy, and Istio.
- Con: Enterprise-focused, which may be complex for smaller organizations or simpler use cases.
Key features
Plans and prices: Kong vs Solo.io Gloo
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kong |
| konghq.com/pricing read Nov 2, 2026 |
| Solo.io Gloo | No plan prices on file | solo.io/pricing |
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 Kong pricing and Solo.io Gloo pricing.
Key Takeaways
Kong
- Choose Kong if you want to route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform
Solo.io Gloo
- Worth considering for API tools
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); Solo.io Gloo has none we can show.
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 Kong and Solo.io Gloo 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); Solo.io Gloo has none we can show.
What are Kong and Solo.io Gloo used for?
Kong: Route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform. Solo.io Gloo: Reimagining infrastructure for cloud and AI with advanced API management and service mesh solutions.
What does Kong cost vs Solo.io Gloo?
Kong has no public paid-plan price on file. Solo.io Gloo has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Kong and Solo.io Gloo?
Kong's main strength: high performance. Solo.io Gloo's main strength: unifies API management across diverse environments and traffic types.
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