Amazon API Gateway vs Tyk Cloud: What are the differences?

Introduction

Here, we will discuss the key differences between Amazon API Gateway and Tyk Cloud. Both Amazon API Gateway and Tyk Cloud are popular API management platforms, but they differ in several aspects such as features, pricing, deployment options, and scalability.

1. Pricing: One of the key differences between Amazon API Gateway and Tyk Cloud is their pricing model. Amazon API Gateway follows a usage-based pricing model, where you pay for the number of API calls, data transfer, and additional features like caching and authentication. On the other hand, Tyk Cloud offers a subscription-based pricing model, where you pay a fixed monthly fee based on the number of APIs, endpoints, and users.

2. Deployment Options: Another important difference lies in the deployment options provided by both platforms. Amazon API Gateway is a fully managed service, which means that it is hosted and maintained by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It offers seamless integration with other AWS services and allows you to easily deploy your APIs on the AWS infrastructure. On the contrary, Tyk Cloud provides both cloud-hosted and on-premises deployment options, giving you the flexibility to choose how and where you want to host your APIs.

3. Scalability: Scalability is a crucial factor when it comes to managing APIs. Amazon API Gateway is known for its high scalability and availability, leveraging the robust AWS infrastructure to handle a large number of concurrent API requests. It supports auto-scaling and can handle sudden spikes in traffic without any manual intervention. Tyk Cloud, on the other hand, also offers scalable infrastructure but may not have the same level of scalability as Amazon API Gateway due to differences in underlying infrastructure and resources.

4. Features: Both Amazon API Gateway and Tyk Cloud offer a wide range of features for API management. However, there are some differences in terms of the specific features they provide. Amazon API Gateway offers features like caching, throttling, request validation, authentication, and authorization using AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM). It also integrates well with other AWS services such as AWS Lambda for serverless computing. Tyk Cloud, on the other hand, provides features like rate limiting, key management, analytics, and developer portal. It also supports plugin architecture, allowing you to extend its functionality through custom plugins.

5. Integration Capabilities: Integration capabilities are another differentiating factor between Amazon API Gateway and Tyk Cloud. Amazon API Gateway seamlessly integrates with other AWS services, making it easier to build end-to-end solutions using various AWS components. It also provides out-of-the-box integration with AWS Lambda for serverless API implementation. Tyk Cloud, on the other hand, offers integrations with different backend systems and databases, enabling you to connect your APIs with existing infrastructure and data sources.

6. Developer Experience: The developer experience offered by Amazon API Gateway and Tyk Cloud can differ in terms of usability and ease of use. Amazon API Gateway provides a user-friendly web-based console, making it easy to configure and manage APIs without the need for extensive technical knowledge. It also provides SDKs and code generation tools for different programming languages, simplifying the development process. Tyk Cloud, on the other hand, offers a user-friendly dashboard and RESTful API for configuration and management. It also provides extensive documentation and guides for developers to get started quickly.

In Summary, Amazon API Gateway and Tyk Cloud differ in terms of pricing, deployment options, scalability, features, integration capabilities, and developer experience.