IBM API Connect vs Microsoft Azure API Management vs Tyk comparison

Microsoft Azure API Management

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IBM API Connect

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM API Connect, Microsoft Azure API Management, and Tyk based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google and others in API Management.

To learn more, read our detailed API Management Report (Updated: August 2025).

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API Management

August 2025

Helped 868,229 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:

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the API Management category, the mindshare of IBM API Connect is 6.1%, down from 6.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Azure API Management is 16.5%, down from 19.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Tyk is 2.2%, up from 1.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Management Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft Azure API Management	16.5%
IBM API Connect	6.1%
Tyk	2.2%
Other	75.2%

API Management

Featured Reviews

Shanmugasundaram Shanmuganathan

Solutions Architect at Synechron

Offers basic API orchestration and provides robust security and governance features

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.

Read full review

Allan Møller

Consult Manager at Conscia

Transforms internal APIs with secure, manageable cloud compatibility

Microsoft Azure API Management could be improved by enhancing the preview feature, specifically the workspaces. The feature should allow for better delegation of permissions to specific groups without affecting others. The service is extensive and expensive, and this added flexibility would make it more manageable and less prone to errors.

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MarkDoherty

Founding Director at Point Group

Fastest to get up and running and fewer idiosyncrasies than competitors

In terms of our usage, the main area of concern is that they tend to build enhancements slightly ahead of the considerations for what those enhancements and extensions are. So it could be slightly better communication with the customer base that would be my main issue with them. But as a product, it's very difficult to find any major faults.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It is easy to use and stable."

"It allows enterprises to expose some of their tech to outside stakeholders."

"I have found the API Management to be most valuable."

"The support is good and active. I rate the technical support a nine out of ten."

"The most valuable feature is the security we get from this solution. I know of a bank that uses it to ensure that everything is secure. The second feature I like is the retail environment, where we actually want to be able to provide as many suppliers and consumers with APIs as possible. If you are well-trained in the writing of RESTful API's, you can actually publish an API in a matter of minutes, test it, and publish it."

"The most valuable feature of IBM API Connect is the security of the protocol."

"It is a very scalable solution."

"The capabilities are very good."

More IBM API Connect pros

"The UI management is very easy to use."

"The user management is pretty seamless."

"The most valuable features of the solution are its importing and publishing."

"Security is the top feature of Azure API Management."

"The integration with Azure Active Directory is a good security feature for authentication and authorization. There is multifactor authentication. You can also use all of the Azure AD features integrated with API Management."

"The tool's most valuable feature is the integration of CI/CD with the API gateway."

"I like the support they provide for the APIs more than the solution itself. First of all, documentation-wise, both Microsoft Azure and even Google Cloud are up there. But in comparison, the real-time consulting and support for APIs make Microsoft stand out a little. I also like the performance. Standard public cloud provider-built APIs are more resilient and flexible in terms of what feature you want to use and what feature you don't want to use, and they're more customizable. They are more resilient in terms of performance in that particular environment because that is the design aspect of the offering. When public clouds build APIs and deploy them after testing them on their framework for a certain amount of time, I feel there is a massive difference in the product's performance. On the interface, everything is strong."

"The initial setup is not that complex, but there are certain challenges."

More Microsoft Azure API Management pros

"The most valuable feature is the load balancing with the circuit-breaker function."

"The feature I find most valuable is that this solution allows us to manage our security."

"It is a good product for API management."

"The scalability is very good. That was a key factor in the selection, like how it could be pushed to high volume and scalability, which seemed to be very good."

"The portal for developers that this solution provides has great functionality."

"You can set up workflows and write limited pieces of logic."

Cons

"The automation and the simplicity could be improved."

"The implementation of IBM API Connect is complex, as it's an enterprise solution with many components that require more than one person. It's not a single product that you work on, and this is an area for improvement, but normally, it's good. Having a more structured model for IBM API Connect support is also room for improvement that would help customers better."

"Components, like caching, should be implemented as policies, not requiring dependency on an external solution."

"The integration of an API gateway that implements the sidecar pattern, which can be deployed in cloud applications, and expose the microservices directly in each pod, this can be more decentralized components."

"It is expensive within this class of products."

"In terms of what needs improvement, some of the product documentation could be better."

"We've had some issues upgrading to the latest version of the solution."

"The solution is not scalable."

More IBM API Connect cons

"I could that the UI could be improved."

"Microsoft Azure API Management could be improved by enhancing the preview feature, specifically the workspaces."

"Technical support could be more flexible and try to meet the client's needs a bit more effectively."

"Support for GraphQL could be better."

"Could use clearer configuration when it comes to API policies."

"The cloud deployment performance could be better."

"The solution's integration suite needs improvement."

"The licensing fees should be cheaper."

More Microsoft Azure API Management cons

"We would like a better tool for generating documentation for the APIs to be developed."

"In terms of our usage, the main area of concern is that they tend to build enhancements slightly ahead of the considerations for what those enhancements and extensions are. So it could be slightly better communication with the customer base that would be my main issue with them."

"It is a young product and does not have the kind of brand recognition that would make it a more popular solution with our clients."

"We ran it for a while, but then we decided to move away from Tyk, because Tyk's cloud version, the SaaS version, has a significant limitation of limited flexibility, so you can't program very much."

"Sometimes when new features are released, they are not immediately stable."

"I would like to see some additional features like having some extensions for .NET core because we use it for our back-end language."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"API Connect was highly expensive for us, but the decision to switch was made before I joined the company. It seems like the company bought it, but they didn't know how to use it. After two years, they decided to reevaluate and conduct some cost estimates."

"It is expensive when compared to other products in this class. There were no extra fees for add-ons or technical support."

"It would be a good idea to bring down the pricing by at least 20 to 30 percent."

"The price of the solution is expensive. However, there are a lot of customization capabilities."

"It can be quite expensive. It's okay for large-scale usage but quite expensive for smaller-scale implementations."

"It is a pretty expensive tool."

"Pricing for IBM API Connect varies, e.g. it could be subscription-based. Deploying it on private cloud also means you have to own most of the software licensing."

"There was a need to purchase an upfront license or a one-time license or upfront license, but I cannot remember the details about it clearly."

More IBM API Connect pricing and cost advice

"This is an expensive solution."

"Since everyone is isocentric here, it is reasonable for me."

"The price is comparable."

"The solution is highly expensive. Our customers worry about the costs. The price should be a lot less."

"There are no additional costs above the main license."

"We are paying standard fees to use Microsoft Azure API Management."

"Microsoft is competitively priced."

"We pay for a yearly license."

More Microsoft Azure API Management pricing and cost advice

"It had a free version, which suited many of our needs, but not all, but we were happy to go ahead with the licensed version as well, which is the paid version."

"There are different versions and plans available depending on the requirements, so there is flexibility in terms of the pricing."

"The cost curve is far smoother, both in terms of volume and the number of calls it's running on, compared to most competitors. So it's a tad more expensive at the very low end, but the curve is nothing like Apigee or some of the others."

"We are using the open-source version of this product, so there are no licensing costs for its use."

"The price is low compared to other products of a similar type."

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868,229 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

19%

Insurance Company

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Financial Services Firm

24%

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	19
Midsize Enterprise	10
Large Enterprise	58

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	23
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	52

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM API Connect?

Publishers can easily identify, create, and publish APIs on the developer portal, defining plans, packages, and poten...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM API Connect?

Pricing depends on how many instances run across environments. I don't deal with licensing, but compared to other IBM...

What needs improvement with IBM API Connect?

When comparing API Gateway with DataPower Gateway, several features in DataPower Gateway are absent in the APIC layer...

How does Apigee differ from Azure API Management?

Apigee offers both cloud-based and on-prem options while Microsoft Azure API Management currently only offers a clou...

Which is better - Azure API Management or Amazon API Gateway?

If you use Azure products, API Management is a great solution. It solves many of the problems of externalizing web se...

What do you like most about Microsoft Azure API Management?

Microsoft Azure API Management is a good, comprehensive solution for enterprise implementation.

What do you like most about Tyk?

The scalability is very good. That was a key factor in the selection, like how it could be pushed to high volume and ...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Tyk?

The pricing is actually quite competitive. In Azure environments, it gets beaten by Microsoft API Gateway, but on the...

What needs improvement with Tyk?

In terms of our usage, the main area of concern is that they tend to build enhancements slightly ahead of the conside...

IBM DataPower Gateway vs IBM API Connect

Comparisons

Compared 27% of the time

Apigee vs IBM API Connect

Compared 20% of the time

Amazon API Gateway vs IBM API Connect

Compared 6% of the time

Kong Gateway Enterprise vs IBM API Connect

Compared 6% of the time

Oracle API Management vs IBM API Connect

Compared 1% of the time

More IBM API Connect Competitors

Amazon API Gateway vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 51% of the time

Apigee vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 15% of the time

Kong Gateway Enterprise vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 4% of the time

MuleSoft API Manager vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 4% of the time

Axway AMPLIFY API Management vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 1% of the time

More Microsoft Azure API Management Competitors

Traefik Enterprise vs Tyk

Compared 14% of the time

Apache APISIX vs Tyk

Compared 13% of the time

Amazon API Gateway vs Tyk

Compared 12% of the time

Apigee vs Tyk

Compared 11% of the time

IBM DataPower Gateway vs Tyk

Compared 3% of the time

More Tyk Competitors

Product Reports

Download IBM API Connect product report

IBM API Connect

September 2025

Microsoft Azure API Management

September 2025

Download Microsoft Azure API Management product report

Download Tyk product report

August 2025

Also Known As

No data available

Azure API Management, MS Azure API Management

No data available

Overview

IBM API Connect is an API management tool providing robust security, seamless REST and SOAP conversion, and flexible deployment options for diverse cloud environments. It aids organizations in securing and monetizing their APIs while streamlining the development process.

IBM API Connect offers features like a security gateway, API lifecycle management, and integration with DataPower. Its intuitive interface enhances ease of use, supporting extensive analytics and traffic management. However, there are areas for improvement in automation, system integration, and user configuration. Organizations can deploy API Connect on-premises or in the cloud, delivering secure access control and analytics for banking, financial services, and government sectors. Compliance with standards like PSD2 ensures secure external API exposure and integration with multiple systems.

What are the most important features of IBM API Connect?

Security Gateway: Provides robust protection and data security for APIs.
Seamless Conversion: Facilitates easy conversion between REST and SOAP protocols.
API Management: Supports full API lifecycle management for efficient development.
DataPower Integration: Integrates seamlessly with DataPower for enhanced functionality.
Developer Portal: Offers a user-friendly interface for managing APIs and developers.
Analytics: Delivers powerful insights through comprehensive API analytics.
Flexible Deployment: Supports deployment on different cloud platforms for versatility.

What benefits and ROI can users expect from IBM API Connect?

Traffic Management: Efficiently manages high volumes of API traffic without compromising performance.
Data Protection: Ensures data is protected during API communication.
API Monetization: Facilitates API monetization strategies to drive revenue.
Scalability: Provides scalable solutions to handle growing demands seamlessly.

In specific industries like banking, financial services, and government sectors, IBM API Connect plays a crucial role in API management, orchestration, and regulation tasks. It provides secure access, control, and compliance with industry standards, serving as an essential gateway for data exchange and integration across multiple systems.

IBM

Microsoft Azure API Management is essential for managing APIs, facilitating integration, and ensuring secure internal and external communication.

Organizations leverage Microsoft Azure API Management for seamless integration and effective API management. It supports microservices, legacy modernization, and platform orchestration in sectors like healthcare, telecom, and finance. Features such as developer portals and centralized libraries simplify usage. While it showcases strengths in hybrid cloud support and scalability, improvements are suggested in versioning and multi-tenancy.

What key features does it offer?

Integration with Microsoft services ensures robust access control and user-friendly deployment.
Developer portal and documentation improve usability and learning.
Hybrid cloud support offers seamless on-premise connectivity.
Scalability and security features are well-regarded.
Centralized API library simplifies management.

What benefits or ROI should users consider?

Facilitates API lifecycle management enhancing user experience.
Simplifies authentication and subscription models.
Enhances data exchange and real-time monitoring.
Streamlines API mapping and orchestration across platforms.
Promotes flexibility and transparency in system integration.

Microsoft Azure API Management aids modernization across healthcare, telecom, and financial services by enabling legacy system updates and facilitating smooth platform orchestration.

Microsoft

Tyk is an open source API Gateway that is fast and scalable, an API management platform featuring an API gateway, analytics, developer portal and dashboard. Available in three flavours to best suit your architecture and governance. We offer full cloud or on-premises options, and the best of both worlds with our unique hybrid model. www.tyk.io