IBM API Connect Reviews

Vendor: IBM

4.0 out of 5

76 reviews
90% willing to recommend

What is IBM API Connect?

IBM API Connect facilitates API management and integration in the financial sector. Companies use it to expose, secure, and manage APIs for banking, insurance, and fintech, deploying it on-premises, in the cloud, or as a hybrid solution.

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IBM API Connect is the #8 ranked solution in top API Management solutions and top Integration Platform as a Service providers. PeerSpot users give IBM API Connect an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. IBM API Connect is most commonly compared to Microsoft Azure API Management: IBM API Connect vs Microsoft Azure API Management. IBM API Connect is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 69% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 20% of all views.

Helped 864,155 peers since 2012

Featured IBM API Connect reviews

Shanmugasundaram Shanmuganathan

Solutions Architect at Synechron

While Azure API Management offers configurable scalability, IBM API Connect relies on Kubernetes clusters. This might seem manual and require defining cluster instances upfront, but it's completely customizable and not on-the-fly scaling. It's completely custom-driven, not on-the-fly scaling, which some may consider cumbersome. Overall, I would rate the scalability an eight out of ten. Almost all applications we've been exposing lately go through this middleware, so it's used extensively. There are around sixty applications directly using it, but six Kubernetes clusters serve those applications. It's heavily used for integration, including system-to-system integration and product integrations. Our usage has been increasing year-on-year based on our needs.

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MuhammadSalman1

Senior Software Engineer at Systems Limited

DataPower Gateway holds significant value for us as it serves as the cornerstone of our enterprise security controls. Even in the absence of published APIs, DataPower Gateway continues to maintain robust security measures. In the event of IBM API Connect experiencing downtime, users can still access APIs through DataPower Gateway, thereby minimizing downtime and ensuring continued service availability for users.

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KANCHAN CHALASANI

Software Engineer IV at Royal Cyber Inc.

When comparing API Gateway with DataPower Gateway, several features in DataPower Gateway are absent in the APIC layer. Examples include the lack of connectivity to MQ ( /categories/message-queue-mq-software ). Custom code is required to connect to MQ ( /categories/message-queue-mq-software ) and exchange messages. Enhancements for segregating APIs based on domain are needed. Auto-approval of APIs for non-prod environments has been requested. These were not developed in version 10.5.

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IBM API Connect mindshare

Product category:

As of August 2025, the mindshare of IBM API Connect in the API Management category stands at 6.2%, down from 6.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Management

PeerResearch reports based on IBM API Connect reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	API Management	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM API Connect vs Microsoft Azure API Management	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM API Connect vs Amazon API Gateway	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM API Connect vs Apigee	Aug 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Microsoft Azure API Management	3.9	16.7%	91%	82 interviews Add to research
Apigee	4.1	12.2%	92%	89 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM API Connect offers valuable features like enhanced security with OAuth, easy service cataloging, robust API management, and seamless integration with various platforms. Its intuitive interface simplifies deployment and configuration while ensuring high performance and scalability. Users appreciate the centralized governance, role differentiation, efficient API creation, monitoring, and analytics. The DataPower Gateway integration enhances enterprise security, and the comprehensive suite supports monetization, self-service portals, and API lifecycle management for both internal and external stakeholders.

"Overall, I rate it nine out of ten."
"The solution's technical support team is good."
"The main benefits of IBM API Connect for our API life cycle management are the core API functionalities, the developer's portal, and robust security capabilities.IBM API Connect's security protocols enhance our data protection strategies by offering end-to-end security, mechanisms to counter common attacks like DDoS, and the ability to define policies for API groups to control traffic and prevent unwanted access to our systems."

Room for Improvement

Users suggest that IBM API Connect could improve its integration with other systems, particularly Exchange Server and various cloud platforms. Enhancements in stability and user-friendliness, especially for setup and administration, are needed. Customization options and monetization features require attention. Documentation could be more comprehensive and supportive of interactive learning. Users call for better automation, flexibility, performance enhancements, security configurations, and more straightforward troubleshooting. Generic support services and licensing processes could also see improvements. Pricing and support for newer technologies are additional concerns.

"When comparing API Gateway with DataPower Gateway, several features in DataPower Gateway are absent in the APIC layer. Examples include the lack of connectivity to MQ."
"The only downside where improvements are needed is probably on the licensing side."
"We have encountered challenges with IBM API Connect, particularly during significant upgrades.These upgrades demand substantial labour and financial resources, including consulting services from IBM.I'd like to see increased flexibility, more frequent updates with new features, an efficient upgrade process, and additional AI capabilities for future releases."

ROI

Organizations experience significant time savings and monetary benefits using IBM API Connect, as monetization of data has become possible. Services are now exposed quickly, enhancing governance and security across organizations. An API gateway allows new applications and products to seamlessly integrate using APIs. Substantial reductions in development efforts were achieved by reusing existing scripts. Financial and operational advantages emerged within approximately two years, providing substantial return on investment and improving integration across systems.

Pricing

IBM API Connect offers SaaS and on-premise versions with Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise plans. Pricing is typically high, with variations based on licensing and deployment needs, often negotiable through IBM partners. Licensing models include PVU and consumption-based options. Users report the product as expensive, impacting smaller-scale implementations, though it provides comprehensive features. Subscription costs range from $20,000 to $40,000 annually, but specifics can vary, and cloud services offer flexible pay-as-you-go options.

"It is a pretty expensive tool."
"It can be quite expensive. It's okay for large-scale usage but quite expensive for smaller-scale implementations."
"I rate the product price a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is a low price, and ten is a high price."

Popular Use Cases

IBM API Connect is primarily utilized for API management, security, and integration in banking and financial sectors. It serves as an API gateway, handling API monetization, transformation, and orchestration. Organizations use it to comply with regulations like PSD2 and for external communication and open banking. It facilitates exposing backend services, integrating applications, and supporting cloud and on-premise deployments, providing flexibility in deploying and consuming APIs across various platforms.

Service and Support

IBM API Connect technical support is generally viewed as responsive and knowledgeable, with fast issue resolution and proactive assistance. However, experiences vary, with some noting slow response times and challenges due to insufficient documentation. Customers appreciate the engagement during complex migrations and find IBM's assistance effective, though procedures can be cumbersome. Customer service during implementation and requests for new features is deemed helpful, yet responsiveness varies based on location and support levels.

Deployment

Initial setup experiences with IBM API Connect vary. Some find it straightforward with existing infrastructure, while others encounter complexity due to multiple components and configurations. Documentation is helpful, but expertise may be needed for optimization. Technical challenges like security and integration with platforms such as Kubernetes arise. Deployment times can range from minutes to weeks, influenced by organizational dependencies and environment scale. Teams involved can range from small groups to larger cross-functional units.

Scalability

IBM API Connect demonstrates strong scalability features through its architecture, allowing organizations to scale horizontally or vertically with ease. Companies report adding resources and integrating APIs simply, using capabilities like Bluemix and Kubernetes clusters. Although some find scaling expensive or complex, successful scaling is common. Its performance is reliable, supporting large numbers of users and transactions. Updates and configurations are manageable, contributing to its scalability reputation among enterprises of varying sizes.

Stability

IBM API Connect is generally viewed as stable, with users noting improvements in stability over time, especially since 2018. While there were initial issues and some instability in new versions, many have reported no major problems in recent iterations. Users have experienced stability in transaction handling and minimal disruptions, though occasional issues during upgrades and the need for frequent patches were acknowledged. Many rate its stability capabilities between seven and ten out of ten.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our IBM API Connect Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

20%

Insurance Company

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Retailer

Healthcare Company

Comms Service Provider

Energy/Utilities Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Construction Company

University

Hospitality Company

Transportation Company

Educational Organization

Media Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Outsourcing Company

Logistics Company

Consumer Goods Company

Wellness & Fitness Company

Legal Firm

Non Profit

Performing Arts

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Compare IBM API Connect with alternative products

Learn more about IBM API Connect

IBM API Connect focuses on creating and monetizing APIs while enabling seamless transactions and integration with third-party services. It is vital for compliance with regulations and enhances external communication among institutions. With deployment options suitable for different environments, it supports centralized gateway management, robust security features, and comprehensive API lifecycle management. Users benefit from powerful analytics, user-friendly interfaces, and high performance with capabilities in message transformation and efficient monitoring.

What are the most important features?

Centralized Gateway: Manages all APIs through a single entry point.
Robust Security: Ensures API protection with advanced security measures.
Comprehensive API Lifecycle Management: Covers creation, deployment, and retirement of APIs.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies API creation and management tasks.
Powerful Analytics: Provides insights into API usage and performance.
Seamless Integration: Connects easily with third-party services and internal systems.
Flexible Deployment Options: Supports on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
High Performance: Optimizes API performance and reduces latency.
Message Transformation: Manipulates and formats messages between different systems.
Visualization Tools: Enables clear and detailed views of API usage statistics.

What benefits or ROI should users look for?

API Monetization: Generates additional revenue streams from APIs.
Enhanced Compliance: Ensures adherence to industry regulations and standards.
Improved External Communication: Facilitates integration and communication among financial institutions.
Technical Support: Benefit from reliable customer support and easy configuration.
Deployment Flexibility: Choose from on-premises, cloud, or hybrid options.

IBM API Connect is extensively implemented in the financial sector, enabling banking, insurance, and fintech services to manage APIs efficiently. Companies use it to ensure secure transactions, integration with third-party services, and compliance with regulatory standards. Its deployment flexibility accommodates different infrastructure needs, making it suitable for a wide range of financial applications.