IBM API Connect vs Mule Anypoint Platform comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM API Connect and Mule Anypoint Platform based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed IBM API Connect vs. Mule Anypoint Platform Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The capabilities are very good.""The functionalities on offer are very good.""We are able to share those APIs instantly within the organization; even if we want to share it outside publicly, then we can have those capabilities.""The centralized management: this provides a management module that can deploy and apply security policies to all APIs, including all the gateways that are deployed on-premises and on any cloud because the gateway component can run at a VMware or in a Kubernetes cluster.""It is easy to use and stable.""IBM API Connect is a reliable and scalable solution.""The product gathers data to measure API performance.""It's quite flexible and easy to deploy, especially for beginners. It has almost all the features that an API gateway should have."

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"MuleSoft Anypoint Platform's most valuable features are its observability and stability.""It is very easy to use for building connectors. It comes with a lot of connectors. For example, it has different adapters for NetSuite, which are very easy to use. It also has Salesforce connectors. The object store feature is also really easy to use. Mule Anypoint Platform is also good in terms of performance and how it is managed behind the scenes.""The solution's deployment and proxy processes are very good.""The most valuable feature is the variety of characters Anypoint Platform has. It is very scalable and customizable.""Overall, it is a pretty good product. It is also very scalable.""Customers can make use of Runtime Fabric, an RTF environment.""Whenever we need some support in our local language, we get it easily. They also have an office in Germany and if a person is unable to contact them by phone, they can go to the office in person.""We are very satisfied with the DevOps support."

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Cons
"The administration of the user interface and the technical documentation are areas of concern in the solution where improvements are required.""In the next version, I don't know if they've already been included it or not, but the designer and all the tools should be on the cloud. I don't want any external installation or local installation.""We ran it on top of the Kubernetes cluster, so it wasn't a standalone service. In the worst-case scenario, API Connect couldn't stay online if all the containers went down. We had to restart all the services. We shut down all the containers automatically one by one.""The installation process could use improvement. I hope that in the next release, the installation process is easier.""Firstly, the pricing model, when compared to other open sources, is high. Secondly, the availability of resources in the market, specifically the developers available in the market, is not so much.""Automation for our Domino applications could be improved.""There is room for improvement regarding the connectivity of the DevOps.""The solution is overly complex."

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"Technical support needs to be improved, especially when you need help with more technical aspects of the solution.""The solution's pricing model is very strange, and it will be really expensive if you use APIs a lot.""Adding connectors for new upcoming applications would add extra value to this product.""An on-premise setup requires special skills and you need a lot of professional services.""The runtime management and connectors could use some work and are vulnerable to breakage after upgrades.""The cost of the product is an area of concern where improvements are required, especially when compared to other tools, like Dell Boomi or Oracle.""Lacks intelligent management data and intelligent mappings.""The terms of use and how it's priced has become very difficult to manage, which is forcing us to look for alternatives already - and we haven't even been using it for that long just yet."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "API Connect is quite pricey."
  • "I haven't seen anyone go from on-premise to the cloud. In fact, I am seeing people go from the cloud to on-premise because the costs can quickly grow on the cloud."
  • "It would be a good idea to bring down the pricing by at least 20 to 30 percent."
  • "The pricing is too expensive with IBM. Sometimes, we prefer to go with an open source or something more lightweight."
  • "It is expensive when compared to other products in this class. There were no extra fees for add-ons or technical support."
  • "It's an expensive product."
  • "IBM API Connect could be cheaper."
  • "It is quite an expensive product."
  • More IBM API Connect Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Licensing can be complex as is the case with most iPaaS/cloud offerings."
  • "Mule is not the cheapest integration platform out there, but it deserves the price we are paying."
  • "The product comes complete at one set price including support."
  • "The licensing is core-based. My customers tell me that it's very expensive compared to the cost of other integration suites."
  • "Mule Anypoint Platform pricing is slightly higher compared to Dell Boomi."
  • "The solution is the priciest in the market which is an issue for some clients."
  • "The pricing of our solution is highly competitive. While it may not be categorized as exceptionally low, it is certainly more affordable compared to IBM."
  • "The product is still very expensive."
  • More Mule Anypoint Platform Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:Publishers can easily identify, create, and publish APIs on the developer portal, defining plans, packages, and potentially billing rules.
    Top Answer: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.
    Top Answer:The platform’s integration with the payment gateway needs enhancement. The setup process and support services could be improved.
    Top Answer:I architected solutions using Oracle SOA/OSB, Spring Boot, MuleSoft Anypoint Platform on cloud / on-premises and hybrid modes What I see is though if you are an enterprise and have enough money then… more »
    Top Answer:Our organization ran comparison tests to determine whether TIBCO BusinessWorks or Mule Anypoint platform integration and connectivity software was the better fit for us. We decided to go with Mule… more »
    Top Answer: This is a very flexible solution that comes with multiple uses. My organization mostly uses Mule Anypoint Platform for API management, as it lets us build new APIs easily and design new interfaces… more »
    Ranking
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    Average Words per Review
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    Rating
    7.9
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    5,781
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    3,521
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    20
    Average Words per Review
    530
    Rating
    8.4
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Data Integrator
    Learn More
    Overview

    IBM API Connect is an enterprise-grade platform that provides a comprehensive solution for creating, securing, managing, sharing, monetizing, and analyzing APIs. Designed for cloud and on-premises deployment, it integrates seamlessly with various systems, ensuring robust security and enabling efficient API lifecycle management. The user feedback underscores its efficiency, user-friendly aspects, and practical customer support, making it a reliable choice for enterprises seeking to optimize their API strategies.

    IBM API Connect provides end-to-end management of APIs, facilitating the creation, security, management, sharing, monetization, and analysis​​. It allows the creation of custom APIs, exposing the full capabilities of applications and ensuring thorough testing before deployment.​ The platform offers robust security features, applying out-of-the-box and custom gateway policies to protect back-end data and services. Users can manage the entire lifecycle of their APIs, including publishing, replacing, migrating, deprecating, and retiring.

    API Connect includes a customizable portal for sharing APIs with developers, complete with built-in communication tools like blogs and forums​​. The solution offers comprehensive analytics for managing service levels, setting quotas, establishing controls, and analyzing trends.

    IBM API Connect stands out as a versatile and robust API management solution. It is well-suited for organizations looking for a comprehensive tool to handle the entire lifecycle of their APIs with a focus on integration, security, and analytics.

    Mule Anypoint Platform is a high-ranking solution that creates a communication layer between disparate systems to eliminate integration problems. The product retrieves and stores data streams from any source type, device, or application, both in the cloud and locally. Mule Anypoint Platform solves the most challenging connectivity problems across Software as a Service (SaaS), service-oriented architecture (SOA), and application programming interfaces (APIs) through connectivity, control, and composability. The unified hybrid integration platform achieves this by creating an application network of data, apps, and devices with API-led connectivity.

    The solution consists of a set of out-of-the-box connectors that work on any type of system and offers a configuration with low coding effort while minimizing the cost and constraints of hard point-to-point connections. The use cases of Mule Anypoint Platform include:

    • Utilizing APIs for application delivery: Specialists can use Mule Anypoint Platform to jumpstart application development and take advantage of pre-built assets or utilize APIs built anywhere using their CI/CD pipelines. Companies can build APIs from scratch in diverse protocols and test them with built-in support for Maven and Jenkins.

    • Flexible deployment: Mule Anypoint Platform can be used in any architecture or environment. The product offers its users flexibility and freedom to select between using MuleSoft's fully managed infrastructure or deployment in popular cloud providers like Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.

    • Data protection: The product offers high levels of security and compliance with various standards and policies. It can be utilized by companies for protecting data, microservices, APIs, and integrations without development overheads.

    • API and service management and monitoring: The product offers an all-in-one platform for users to manage, secure, and scale their APIs as well as troubleshoot and diagnose in real time to detect underlying issues.

    • Custom marketplace building: Mule Anypoint Platform can be used to facilitate the creation of custom marketplaces for customers, partners, and employees. The product offers pre-built APIs, templates, connectors, accelerators, and other integrations for this purpose.

    Mule Anypoint Platform Features

    Mule Anypoint Platform consists of features for APIs and integrations that are separated into three categories: API management, integration, and deployment and monitoring. These features include:

    • Anypoint Flex Gateway: This feature is designed to manage and secure APIs running across any environment.

    • Anypoint API Governance: This feature ensures consistent API security and quality with self-service tools.

    • Anypoint API Designer: API Designer offers a visual or code-based guided process for designing, documenting, and testing APIs in any language.

    • Anypoint Studio: Through this feature, users can accelerate implementation with prebuilt modules for common integration requirements.

    • Anypoint Connectors: This capacity of the solution allows system integration using a web interface or a desktop-integrated development environment (IDE).

    • Anypoint Code Builder: This is a new feature of the product that is made for developers to design, develop, and deploy APIs, integrations, and automations from a single environment, utilizing an innovative IDE.

    • Anypoint Monitoring: Through this feature, users can monitor in real time their integrations, APIs, and microservices all in one place.

    • Anypoint Runtime Fabric: This is a container service that brings cloud benefits to on-premises deployments both in data centers and on a private cloud.

    • CloudHub: This is the Platform as a Service (PaaS) component of Mule Anypoint Platform.

    • Anypoint Security: This feature offers advanced defense for users' APIs and integrations.

    Mule Anypoint Platform Benefits

    Mule Anypoint Platform offers multiple benefits for companies that utilize its services. Some of the biggest advantages of the product include:

    • Mule Anypoint Platform reduces development time to deliver efficient resource management from a single platform.

    • The product improves agility with innovative architecture that adheres to customers' specific needs.

    • The solution utilizes open technologies that provide customers with reusability, modularity, and collaboration opportunities.

    • Mule Anypoint Platform comes with automated security and governance that ensures customers' data is protected at enterprise levels.

    • The product has built-in reliability, visibility, and scalability, which make operations more resilient for users.

    • The solution is constantly updated and ensures a competitive environment for users through flexible services.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Michael S., a senior enterprise architect at a tech services company, gives Mule Anypoint Platform a high rating and states that the product is constantly improving to help connect applications, data, and devices.

    A senior technical architect at a tech services company likes Mule Anypoint Platform for the good stability with an easy setup and good technical support that the product provides.

    Sample Customers
    Heineken, Tine, Finologee, Axis Bank
    VMware, Gucci, MasterCard, Target, Time Inc, Hershey's, Tesla, Spotify, Office Depot, Intuit, CBS, Amtrak, Salesforce, Gap, Ralph Lauren
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm41%
    Computer Software Company16%
    Retailer9%
    Insurance Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm20%
    Educational Organization17%
    Insurance Company10%
    Computer Software Company10%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company29%
    Healthcare Company12%
    Recruiting/Hr Firm12%
    Comms Service Provider6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization21%
    Computer Software Company14%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise11%
    Large Enterprise67%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business13%
    Midsize Enterprise24%
    Large Enterprise63%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business29%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise50%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business15%
    Midsize Enterprise28%
    Large Enterprise57%
    Buyer's Guide
    IBM API Connect vs. Mule Anypoint Platform
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about IBM API Connect vs. Mule Anypoint Platform and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    IBM API Connect is ranked 7th in Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) with 73 reviews while Mule Anypoint Platform is ranked 1st in Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) with 39 reviews. IBM API Connect is rated 7.8, while Mule Anypoint Platform is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of IBM API Connect writes "Good speed and performance, but it's based on a bit dated architecture". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Mule Anypoint Platform writes "Robust, reliable, and stable, ensuring high availability for critical integrations". IBM API Connect is most compared with IBM DataPower Gateway, Apigee, Microsoft Azure API Management, MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager and Amazon API Gateway, whereas Mule Anypoint Platform is most compared with MuleSoft Composer, Microsoft Azure Logic Apps, Oracle Integration Cloud Service, SAP Process Orchestration and Azure Data Factory. See our IBM API Connect vs. Mule Anypoint Platform report.

    See our list of best Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) vendors.

    We monitor all Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.