Frends vs Kong Gateway Enterprise comparison

Frends Enterprise iPaaS and Kong are both solutions in the API Management category. Frends Enterprise iPaaS is ranked #25 with an average rating of 8.7, while Kong is ranked #6 with an average rating of 7.7. Frends Enterprise iPaaS holds a 0.2% mindshare in APIM, compared to Kong’s 7.0% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Frends Enterprise iPaaS users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Kong users who would recommend it.

Frends

Read 3 Frends reviews

219 Views
90 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Kong Gateway Enterprise

Read 25 Kong Gateway Enterprise reviews

7,788 Views
5,704 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Frends

Kong Gateway Enterprise

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

Kong Gateway Enterprise and Frends compete in the API management and integration platform space. Kong Gateway Enterprise has the upper hand in scalability and API management capabilities, while Frends is preferred for its comprehensive integration features.

Features: Kong Gateway Enterprise provides extensive API traffic handling, scalability for large deployments, and robust management capabilities. It is ideal for enterprises requiring high-performance API settings. Frends offers automation tools, diverse connectors, and multi-system integration solutions, beneficial for complex integration tasks in organizations.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service:Kong Gateway Enterprise has straightforward setup but requires expert configuration with efficient customer service. Frends offers an easier deployment experience with comprehensive support and assistance, suited for those with limited technical resources.

Pricing and ROI: Kong Gateway Enterprise involves higher initial setup costs, leading to a longer ROI period, justified by its powerful API management. Frends provides a more flexible, cost-effective pricing model, offering quicker ROI for businesses needing broad integration capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed Frends vs. Kong Gateway Enterprise Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Frends vs. Kong Gateway Enterprise

June 2025

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Helped 857,028 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Frends

Ranking in API Management

25th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Kong Gateway Enterprise

Ranking in API Management

6th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the API Management category, the mindshare of Frends is 0.2%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Kong Gateway Enterprise is 7.0%, up from 5.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Management

Featured Reviews

Kalle Reponen

Senior Integration Architect at Visma

Offers simplicity, ease of customization, and visibility of integrations

One thing is that Frends keep the integration, and that is something I know that it's coming, like, a later version; that is something we will be currently missing. So the end-users could take an interest in use by themselves, with the release thing some result flow. That is the most wanted and requested feature for now. Another enhancement includes the monitoring part. It would be nice to have some sort of maybe mobile app on which we can see how integrations are running if there are some problems, and getting those alerts on the mobile would be really nice.

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ASHOK YADAV

Solutions Architect at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Offers OIDC, Rate Limiting, Lambda functions but lacks software upgrades

Upgrading Kong Gateway Enterprise should be more sophisticated and innovative. The main issue is with the update process. Our DevOps and admin teams need to update multiple files, which is cumbersome. For instance, in cases where Palantir countries are involved, they have to update many files, which is not ideal. However, for other tasks like configuring the message routing and services and handling all the configurations, the process is acceptable. The software version upgrade process should be improved. Additionally, the DevOps portal should be integrated more natively. There are a few other areas for improvement, such as implementing automatic load balancing. The status of the office team, whether it is up or down, should be checked at the API gateway level to facilitate load balancing.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"One of the benefits is the speed of creating something new. Second, it's replacing the old integration quite fast. Then it is like the visibility of the integration and the possibility to see what is happening in the integration."

"The user-friendly interface for constructing integration solutions is also a notable benefit."

"The product has valuable features for version control."

"We use the solution for load-balancing, caching, and rate-limiting APIs."

"In our buying companies' perspective, it was easier to use compared to other platforms. The markets were pretty familiar with the solutions."

"Good at intercepting traffic and modeling APIs around that."

"The most valuable features of Kong Enterprise are the out-of-the-box open source easy functionality."

"Kong's most valuable features are its lightweight performance when handling millions of requests and the ability to write custom plugins to enhance security, such as end-to-end encryption, even in the open-source version."

"The most valuable feature of Kong Enterprise is its capability to integrate with various security tools."

"I like everything about it. It provides the security we need."

"It boasts remarkable speed and stability, and these qualities, particularly the gateway's resilience, are standout features for me."

More Kong Gateway Enterprise pros

Cons

"One of the primary areas for improvement is a more mobile-friendly interface for the control center."

"Another enhancement includes the monitoring part. It would be nice to have some sort of maybe mobile app on which we can see how integrations are running if there are some problems, and getting those alerts on the mobile would be really nice."

"It is a new application and lacks some essential features compared to competitors."

"Kong Enterprise needs to improve its pricing, which starts at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pricing should be based on API usage rather than monthly. It should improve its documentation as well."

"The main challenge, in my opinion, is the price. It's difficult to convince our management to approve the budget to purchase it from our vendor. There are no technical problems."

"The ease of billing is lost when Kong is not available directly on the Azure marketplace. This is one area where they can improve."

"Kong Enterprise has decided not to support the web portal feature anymore, but I think that feature should stay in the on-premises solution."

"The product's price is an area of concern where improvements are required."

"We are facing issues with the solution's features like reports and traffic analysis."

"Kong is meant for north-south communications, so it will be interesting to see what solutions they can come up with in the realms of east-west communications, service-to-service communications, and Zero Trust architecture. I believe that if they can provide for these areas, then they will be able to solve the overall integration and security concerns for microservices architecture in general."

"The tool needs improvement in UX."

More Kong Gateway Enterprise cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Recent changes in their pricing have removed this benefit, moving towards process-specific pricing."

"The pricing is quite fair."

"There is a need to pay towards the licensing charges...In some areas, the functionalities are available free of charge."

"Kong Enterprise's pricing is reasonable for our company size."

"It's expensive in Thailand (10 million baht, in Thai currency)."

"The licensing is expensive."

"The licensing fees are paid yearly."

"Basically, my company uses the tool's open-source version."

"The price is really reasonable compared to that of alternative solutions."

"Kong Enterprise is cheaper than Apigee. I rate its pricing as four out of ten."

More Kong Gateway Enterprise pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

60%

Computer Software Company

13%

Construction Company

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

20%

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Frends?

The product has valuable features for version control.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Frends?

The pricing is quite fair. It is quite low compared to competitors, especially when you consider that Frends is a US-based company. So, it's almost cheap compared to them. But, we have an unlimited...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Frends?

It is a new application and lacks some essential features compared to competitors. Basic features like reading and editing into Excel file format could be included.

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How does Kong Enterprise compare with Mulesoft Anypoint API Manager?

The Mulesoft Anypoint API Manager was designed with its users in mind. Though it is a reasonably complex piece of software, it is easy to install and upgrade. While there are different things that ...

See all answers

What do you like most about Kong Enterprise?

The tool's feature that I find most beneficial is rate limiting. In our usage, especially in the financial sector, we prioritize limiting API usage. This is crucial because we provide APIs to other...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Kong Enterprise?

More plugins for additional integrations would be helpful and openness for traditional development languages, such as .NET, because many enterprises are looking for .NET solutions or incorporating ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Azure API Management vs Frends

Compared 63% of the time

MuleSoft API Manager vs Frends

Compared 37% of the time

More Frends Competitors

WSO2 API Manager vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 13% of the time

Microsoft Azure API Management vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 11% of the time

Apigee vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 11% of the time

Kong Konnect vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 10% of the time

Apache APISIX vs Kong Gateway Enterprise

Compared 9% of the time

More Kong Gateway Enterprise Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

API Management

May 2025

Download Frends product report

Buyer's Guide

Kong Gateway Enterprise

June 2025

Download Kong Gateway Enterprise product report

Overview

Frends is a versatile integration platform tailored for streamlined business operations, facilitating seamless automation and connectivity across systems. It effectively addresses integration challenges, providing a reliable foundation for efficient data flow and process enhancement.

Built to cater to complex business environments, Frends offers a comprehensive suite of integration solutions. Users appreciate its capability to simplify integration processes, leveraging robust tools and functionalities that enhance connectivity and automation. This adaptability makes it a preferred choice for enterprises aiming to boost efficiency in data management and workflow automation. Users value its easy-to-use yet powerful features that help bridge various IT systems and improve operational performance. Frends provides meaningful insights into data interactions, fostering informed decision-making and enabling strategic business growth.

What are the key features of Frends?

Intuitive Workflow Designer: Simplifies the creation and management of complex workflows through a user-friendly interface.
API Management: Offers comprehensive tools for designing, deploying, and monitoring APIs efficiently.
Scalability: Ensures the ability to grow with business needs by efficiently handling increasing data volumes.
Security: Provides robust security features to protect data and ensure compliance with industry standards.

What should users look for in terms of benefits and ROI?

Improved Efficiency: Automates processes reducing manual intervention and increasing productivity.
Reduced Costs: Streamlines operations to save resources and reduce operational expenses.
Enhanced Flexibility: Adapts to changing business environments and requirements smoothly.
Increased Data Accuracy: Ensures seamless data flow, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of business information.

In specific industries, Frends is implemented to address distinct challenges in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and logistics. In healthcare, it automates patient data management, enabling efficient record handling. Finance sectors utilize Frends for secure data exchange and compliance, while logistics firms leverage it for optimizing supply chain operations and enhancing tracking capabilities.

Frends Enterprise iPaaS

Kong delivers a next generation API platform built for modern architectures. With a lightnight-fast, lightweight, and flexible core, Kong delivers sub-millisecond latency across all your services. Kong's is deployment-, vendor-, and pattern-agnostic, allowing you to run your services how you want, where you want, and with who you want - from baremetal to cloud, monolith to microservices, service mesh, and beyond.

Kong

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Cargill, Zillow, Ferrari, WeWork, Healthcare.gov, Yahoo! Japan, Giphy, SkyScanner

Buyer's Guide

Frends vs. Kong Gateway Enterprise

June 2025

Free Report: Frends vs. Kong Gateway Enterprise

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