We compared MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager and Kong Enterprise based on our users reviews in five parameters. After reading the collected data, you can find our conclusion below:
The opinions on the setup process for MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager vary, with some users finding it complicated in the past but noting improvements over time. In contrast, Kong Enterprise generally offers a smooth and easy installation process, although a few users encountered difficulties and needed professional assistance.
MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager is highly regarded for its adaptability, expandability, gateway service, policy management at the API level, reliability, user-friendly interface, extensive range of connectors, seamless integration, diverse API options, and incorporation of security measures. On the other hand, Kong Enterprise distinguishes itself with its network services based on plugins, support for plugins, functionality derived from open source, features for authentication and authorization, customization through Lua scripting, impressive performance, and limitations on routing.
The users suggest that MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager could enhance its scalability, pricing options, performance, security options, and customization. On the other hand, Kong Enterprise could improve its pricing, automatic data API creation, customization, scaling up process, and developer portal.
The cost of setting up MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager can be high and varies compared to other options. Users have different opinions, with some finding it expensive and others considering it reasonable. In contrast, Kong Enterprise's pricing is influenced by factors such as scale and usage. It is open-source, indicating that it may be less expensive, although still higher than comparable products. The licensing costs for Kong Enterprise are considered reasonable.
Customers have reported positive experiences with the customer service and support of both MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager and Kong Enterprise. They found the support to be helpful, responsive, and prompt. Additionally, customers specifically praised Kong Enterprise's customer service for their assistance with Lua plugin installation.
Comparison Results
To summarize, MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager and Kong Enterprise have distinct characteristics. MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager is highly regarded for its adaptability, expandability, and extensive toolset. However, users have encountered difficulties during the initial setup, faced limitations due to vendor coupling, and expressed concerns about pricing. Conversely, Kong Enterprise is praised for its seamless installation, network services based on plugins, and authentication capabilities. Nevertheless, users have recommended enhancements in pricing, customization, and scalability. Both products receive positive feedback regarding customer service and support.
"The most valuable feature of Kong Enterprise is its capability to integrate with various security tools."
"It boasts remarkable speed and stability, and these qualities, particularly the gateway's resilience, are standout features for me."
"Protocol transformation is the most valuable feature of Kong Enterprise."
"In our buying companies' perspective, it was easier to use compared to other platforms. The markets were pretty familiar with the solutions."
"The most valuable features of Kong Enterprise are the out-of-the-box open source easy functionality."
"Good at intercepting traffic and modeling APIs around that."
"There are a few features that I like about Kong when it comes to authentication and authorization. Specifically, being able to use Kong for role-based access control (RBAC), and then further being able to integrate the RBAC mechanism with our enterprise directory, was very useful."
"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 companies and must ensure they adhere to their allocated usage limits. Without rate limiting, there's a risk of excessive usage, which could result in significant costs."
"The tool has a private area. It also has a cloud deployment option."
"Whenever there was an issue, the support was excellent."
"MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager is a great solution. I like it very much because of its speed of delivery and because it allows API-led integration."
"We can use both on-premises and cloud setups."
"It can create high-cost solutions, allowing for a great deal of customization to make it well-suited for specific needs."
"We have all the policies available via drag and drop. It made it very easy."
"The most valuable feature is the scalability."
"This is a good API management product."
"Because it is open-source, it should be less expensive than others."
"Kong Enterprise can improve the customization to be able to do the integration properly."
"We would like to see an automatic data API when we have a table in the database."
"The tool needs improvement in UX."
"Kong Enterprise has decided not to support the web portal feature anymore, but I think that feature should stay in the on-premises solution."
"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 OS upgrades are not as frequent as they should be and they are bulky."
"Understanding the configurations and knowing what needs to be done can be a bit difficult initially."
"I would like to see MuleSoft expand the range of APIs you can manage with it beyond HTTP, GIPC, and others."
"Mulesoft Anypoint API Manager can improve some of the gateway features. We could use some more customization in creating rules. A lot of the policies are related to the APIs rather than the client. If I want to apply a policy based on a client that is not available."
"I would like to see more automation. Operations are done manually. It should also automate in the operation."
"The initial setup is very complex."
"The dashboards in Mulesoft Anypoint API Manager could improve."
"The most important thing that should be improved is that it is too heavy."
"I'd like more monitoring and analyzing features included in the future."
"The initial setup, if you go back three or three and a half years, definitely, for us, was complex."
More MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager Pricing and Cost Advice →
Kong Gateway Enterprise is ranked 6th in API Management with 18 reviews while MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager is ranked 4th in API Management with 47 reviews. Kong Gateway Enterprise is rated 7.8, while MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of Kong Gateway Enterprise writes "Provides role-based access control and can be easily customized with Lua script". On the other hand, the top reviewer of MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager writes "Responsive technical support, low tickets issued showing great stability, and limitless expansion". Kong Gateway Enterprise is most compared with Microsoft Azure API Management, WSO2 API Manager, Apigee, Apache APISIX and Amazon API Gateway, whereas MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager is most compared with Microsoft Azure API Management, Amazon API Gateway, Apigee, IBM API Connect and Layer7 API Management. See our Kong Gateway Enterprise vs. MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager report.
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