Kong

Name: Kong
Brand: Kong
Rating: 4.2 (349 reviews)

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Route, secure, and observe APIs with a scalable platform

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Freemium API Tools DevOps Security

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4.2 (349 across the web)

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Reviews on G2 Trustpilot

349 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Updated May 26, 2026

Price: Free plan available, paid tiers above. Compare plans

Key facts

Kong is an API gateway and platform for managing, securing, and monitoring APIs
It provides rate limiting, authentication, and traffic control for microservices
Free and open-source, Enterprise plans available

Pros

High performance
Extensible plugins
Open source

Cons

Complex setup
Enterprise features paid

What is Kong?

Editorial review

Kong is an API gateway and service connectivity platform used by thousands of companies. Route, secure, and observe APIs with a single platform. Plugins add authentication, rate limiting, logging, and more. Deploy as gateway, service mesh, or both. Kubernetes-native with Ingress Controller. The API gateway that scales from startup to enterprise, open-source at its core.

Available on: Web

Louis Corneloup Updated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluate Source konghq.com ↗

Ratings Across the Web

4.2 (349 reviews)

Kong holds an aggregate rating of 4.2 out of 5 from 349 reviews across G2 and Trustpilot, last checked September 17, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

API gateway
Load balancing
Authentication
Rate limiting
Plugins
Enterprise ready

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Oct 11, 2026

Kong plans and prices, checked October 2026
Plan	Price	Details
Free Popular	$0	Open source API gateway Plugins Community support
Plus	$0	Enterprise Enterprise plugins Support GUI

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Is Kong worth the price?

Great value

Kong's pricing is very generous, offering a fully functional open-source 'Free' tier.

The 'Plus' tier, while custom priced, targets enterprise needs with advanced features and support. This structure is excellent for developers and small teams starting out, scaling effectively for larger organizations.

Full Kong pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

Reviews

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4.2/5

Across 349 verified user reviews on G2, Trustpilot

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Best Kong Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

Apigee Paid

Design, secure, and scale your APIs with enterprise-grade management

3.8

AWS API Gateway Freemium

Build, secure, and scale APIs with REST, HTTP, and WebSocket support

4.4

Tyk Paid

Open source API gateway and management platform

4.7

Azure API Management Paid

Secure, govern, and scale REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, and AI APIs

4.2

See all API tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Kong vs Apigee Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Kong vs AWS API Gateway Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Kong vs Tyk Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Kong FAQ

How does Kong help manage API traffic and security?

Kong functions as an API gateway and service connectivity platform, enabling users to route, secure, and observe APIs from a single interface. It offers extensible plugins for functionalities like authentication, rate limiting, and logging to enhance API management and security.

Which teams would benefit most from using Kong?

Teams focused on API development, DevOps, and security will find Kong particularly useful. Its capabilities support managing API lifecycles, ensuring secure access, and monitoring performance across various environments.

How does Kong compare to AWS API Gateway?

Kong, unlike AWS API Gateway, is open-source at its core and offers high performance with extensible plugins. It can be deployed as a gateway, service mesh, or both, providing flexibility across different infrastructure setups.

What kind of trade-offs should users consider when adopting Kong?

Users should be aware that Kong can have a complex setup process. While it offers a robust open-source core, certain advanced enterprise features are only available through paid plans.

Does Kong include a free tier?

Yes, Kong is available on a free tier, allowing users to get started with its core functionalities. Paid plans are offered for those requiring more extensive usage and advanced features.

Can Kong be integrated with Kubernetes environments?

Yes, Kong is Kubernetes-native and includes an Ingress Controller. This allows it to be seamlessly deployed and managed within Kubernetes clusters for API gateway and service mesh functionalities.

How does Kong support API observability?

Kong provides capabilities to observe APIs, allowing users to monitor their performance and behavior. This is part of its comprehensive platform for routing, securing, and gaining insights into API traffic.

Source: konghq.com

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