Logo of Kong API Platform

Kong API Platform

Website LinkedIn Twitter

Last updated on

Company health

Employee growth
27% increase in the last year
Web traffic
12% decrease in the last quarter
Financing
August 2024 - $344M

Ratings

G2
4.4/5
(257)
Glassdoor
3.9/5
(130)

Kong API Platform description

Kong API Platform is a management tool for your company's Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). It helps businesses create, run, secure, and manage APIs across different environments, whether in the cloud, on-premise, or hybrid setups. Kong is designed to be developer-friendly, offering tools and features to simplify API development and management, while providing strong security and governance features to protect your data and ensure compliance. It's used by businesses of all sizes across various industries, helping them build, manage, and scale APIs efficiently.


Who is Kong API Platform best for

Kong API Platform is a robust API management tool ideal for businesses of all sizes seeking to streamline and secure their API infrastructure. Users praise its modular plugin system and efficient handling of large API volumes. However, some have noted limitations with the free version's plugins and the developer portal's customization options. Kong's flexible deployment options and strong security features make it a valuable asset for organizations across various sectors, particularly those in education, media, software, and the public sector.

  • Ideal for small, medium, and enterprise businesses.

  • Suitable for Education, Media & Entertainment, Software/IT, and public sector organizations.


Kong API Platform features

Supported

Kong supports API management, design, and security features.

Supported

Kong API Platform supports hybrid deployments, connecting cloud and on-premise systems.

Supported

Kong API Platform supports secure communication using TLS and mTLS.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Rather negative
-0.39

Customer Service

Rather positive
+0.46

Ease of Use

Strongly positive
+0.73

Reliability and Performance

Strongly positive
+0.82

Ease of Implementation

Rather positive
+0.34

Scalability

Strongly positive
+0.88

Kong API Platform reviews

We've summarised 257 Kong API Platform reviews (Kong API Platform G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of Kong API Platform
  • Modular plugin system allows for extensive customization.
  • Compatible with most APIs and ensures data safety with MTLS.
  • Easy and fast API deployment with dedicated cloud gateway.
  • Excellent customer support.
  • Handles large volumes of API requests efficiently.
Cons of Kong API Platform
  • Plugin limitations: Some useful plugins are only available in the paid version.
  • Low transparency of data Kong is storing for our APIs.
  • Documentation is not proper, leading to time-consuming debugging.
  • Developer portal needs more maturity and functionality.
  • Limited customization options for the developer portal.

Kong API Platform pricing

The commentary is based on 35 reviews from Kong API Platform G2 reviews.

Kong API Gateway offers a robust free version, but some users find the pricing for advanced features and enterprise support high, especially for smaller companies. Several mention some essential plugins are locked behind the paywall. Others find it cost-effective and justifiable.

Users sentiment

Rather negative
-0.39

See the Kong API Platform pricing page.

  • Kong API Platform has a free plan.

  • Kong API Platform has a free trial.

Plus
Pay as you go

Offers basic features to get started with Kong Konnect.

Enterprise
Custom

Provides cost-effective contracts, dedicated support, and everything in the Plus plan.


Kong API Platform alternatives

  • Logo of Gravitee.io
    Gravitee.io
    Open-source API management: full lifecycle, flexible, secure.
    Read more
  • Logo of WSO2 API Manager
    WSO2 API Manager
    Open-source API management: create, secure, and monitor API lifecycles.
    Read more
  • Logo of Apiable
    Apiable
    Share and monetize your APIs effortlessly, no coding needed.
    Read more
  • Logo of Bump.sh
    Bump.sh
    Auto-generated API docs that stay fresh, saving developers time.
    Read more
  • Logo of Diagrid Conductor
    Diagrid Conductor
    Effortless Dapr management on Kubernetes. Observe, control, and optimize.
    Read more
  • Logo of Choreo
    Choreo
    Build, deploy, and manage APIs and integrations easily in the cloud.
    Read more

Kong API Platform FAQ

  • What is Kong API Platform and what does Kong API Platform do?

    Kong API Platform is a comprehensive API management platform enabling businesses to create, secure, and manage APIs across hybrid, cloud, and on-premise environments. It offers tools for API design, deployment, and governance, facilitating efficient scaling and robust security. Kong is known for its modular plugin system and efficient handling of large API volumes.

  • How does Kong API Platform integrate with other tools?

    Kong API Platform integrates with other tools through its plugin architecture. This allows for extensibility and customization by integrating with service meshes, identity providers, and other API gateways. It supports hybrid deployments, bridging on-premise and cloud environments.

  • What the main competitors of Kong API Platform?

    Top alternatives to Kong API Platform include WSO2 API Manager, Apigee Edge, MuleSoft Anypoint Platform, and AWS API Gateway. These competitors offer similar API management functionalities, catering to diverse business needs and technical requirements.

  • Is Kong API Platform legit?

    Kong API Platform is a legitimate and safe API management tool. It's known for its reliability, performance, and scalability, handling large API request volumes efficiently. While the platform is generally well-regarded, users have noted some limitations in plugin functionality and documentation clarity.

  • How much does Kong API Platform cost?

    Kong API Platform offers a free trial and a pay-as-you-go Plus plan. The Enterprise plan has custom pricing for businesses. Contact Kong for specific pricing details. Is Kong worth it? The flexible pricing options make it worth considering.

  • Is Kong API Platform customer service good?

    Kong API Platform's customer support receives positive feedback, with users highlighting its responsiveness and helpfulness in resolving issues and answering questions. However, some users mention that finding specific answers for unique use cases can be challenging, suggesting there's room for improvement in documentation and community support resources.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

NEW: Introducing Gralio Screen Buddy

An AI tool that observes your work, finds inefficiencies, and suggests smarter ways to do things. Maybe you can use your tools better, automate tasks, or switch software.

For Individuals
Streamline your daily tasks, get helpful AI tips, and find the right tools for your workflow.
For Businesses
See how your team really works, uncover automation opportunities, and get software recommendations tailored to your processes.