

MuleSoft API Manager and Kong Gateway Enterprise compete in the API management category, offering advanced integration and security features. MuleSoft holds an edge in comprehensive integration capabilities, while Kong is favored for its performance and pricing.
Features: MuleSoft API Manager supports RAML for API microservices, offers a broad set of connectors, and excels in security integrations. It provides cloud deployment flexibility and strong transformation capabilities with drag-and-drop functions. Kong Gateway Enterprise is known for its lightweight performance, excellent plugin support, and seamless integration with Kubernetes.
Room for Improvement: MuleSoft needs better business analytics and onboarding transparency post Salesforce acquisition. The lack of native BPM tools and its high cost are drawbacks. Users recommend better Kubernetes integration and a simpler upgrade process. Kong should refine pricing models and enhance support for service-to-service communications. Users seek improved developer portals and more advanced plugin-based customization and documentation.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both products offer cloud and on-premises deployment options. MuleSoft provides comprehensive support, but customer satisfaction varies, with some users citing service issues. Kong emphasizes hybrid cloud capabilities and receives positive reviews for customer service and technical support, highlighting a proactive approach in addressing technical problems.
Pricing and ROI: MuleSoft's pricing is considered high with additional costs for features, posing challenges at scale. Despite this, it offers integration benefits and long-term ROI. Kong is cheaper, especially with its open-source offering, and is seen as cost-effective, attributed to its suite of features and flexible pricing, delivering ROI through efficient management capabilities.
This iPaaS platform with CloudHub eliminates variable infrastructure-related costs and saves enterprises on connectivity and operations costs, as everything comes bundled from the MuleSoft side.
The technical support from Kong Gateway Enterprise would be rated about eight, as we missed local technical support.
Our enterprise pays for a special success program, which provides priority support.
If bug fixing is required for downtimes or issues, we receive prompt support with alternative solutions or workarounds.
They can be slow in addressing security vulnerabilities.
The scalability of this solution would be rated about eight or nine.
Regarding availability, especially with iPaaS solutions, they guarantee 99.99%.
There was an issue when trying to implement a request-reply pattern using JMS, which was not functioning as expected despite being documented.
Security is a major concern, especially with new security architecture coming into place.
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 with .NET solutions.
Introducing features related to auto governance without manual effort would make the API Manager smarter and more efficient for enterprises with complex landscapes.
Managing the cost of MuleSoft, particularly the billing model based on the number of active cores/threads, has been challenging.
I see some gaps for improvement in MuleSoft API Manager.
The pricing is high, which is the biggest point where some customers are hesitant about adopting it.
The major challenge they face is the high pricing, which has become notable especially since they transitioned from a VCore to a usage-based subscription.
MuleSoft is typically more expensive compared to using Java or Spring Boot APIs hosted in containers.
The most valuable features of Kong Gateway Enterprise are its seamless integration with Kubernetes and cloud, many plugins that can be incorporated in a solution, and its incorporation with low-code function systems.
Price is not a concern for us, but based on our experience working with financial institutions, maintainability and security are the primary concerns and areas they focus on.
I am satisfied with combining all APIs in one place, and the monitoring capabilities in MuleSoft API Manager for all my APIs are useful for operational efficiency.
MuleSoft's ability to connect to third-party monitoring platforms like AWS, Datadog, and Elastic makes operational analysis more efficient.
It also enables us to create additional layers of authentication, like integrating external providers for OAuth, within reduced timelines.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| MuleSoft API Manager | 4.4% |
| Kong Gateway Enterprise | 4.6% |
| Other | 91.0% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 8 |
| Large Enterprise | 20 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 17 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 5 |
| Large Enterprise | 44 |
Kong Gateway Enterprise is an advanced API management platform offering seamless integration, robust security features, and flexible deployment options for modern enterprises needing efficient API handling.
Kong Gateway Enterprise stands out with its plugin-based network services and ease of implementation in Kubernetes environments. It delivers robust API governance, impressive rate limiting, and customization with Lua scripts. Enhanced with high-performance handling and AI-driven functionality, it supports efficient API monetization. It also ensures competitive pricing, scalability, and strong community support.
What are the key features of Kong Gateway Enterprise?Organizations across finance, IoT, manufacturing, and e-commerce sectors implement Kong Gateway Enterprise to streamline microservices deployment and integration. It manages API security and traffic while providing observability and scalability. The platform enables integration with IDPs and other systems, securing extensive API ecosystems.
MuleSoft API Manager offers a user-friendly platform with comprehensive integration capabilities, strong security, and scalable architecture. It's designed to streamline API management and development processes through robust analytics and a rich interface.
MuleSoft API Manager stands out with its lightweight design, offering extensive connector libraries and ease of applying policies via drag-and-drop functionality. Its robust analytics enhance operational efficiency. Users can implement custom policies, benefit from advanced integration needs like OAuth authentication, and manage extensive API inventories. While facing challenges like high costs and complex upgrades, MuleSoft API Manager is vital for managing APIs across sectors, supporting data exchange between systems such as SAP and Salesforce, and modernizing legacy systems.
What are the standout features of MuleSoft API Manager?MuleSoft API Manager is widely implemented in sectors seeking to integrate services like SAP and Salesforce quickly and securely. Its use in automating processes and enhancing API governance makes it a go-to API gateway. Organizations rely on it to modernize systems and manage interconnectivity, facilitating traffic control and robust policy management.
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