Amazon API Gateway vs Apigee: What are the differences?

Amazon API Gateway and Apigee are two popular solutions for building, managing, and securing APIs. Let's explore the key differences between the two.

1. Pricing Model: One key difference between Amazon API Gateway and Apigee is their pricing model. Amazon API Gateway offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where you pay only for the API calls made and the amount of data transferred. On the other hand, Apigee offers a subscription-based pricing model, where you pay a fixed monthly fee regardless of the usage. This difference in pricing models allows organizations to choose the model that best suits their budget and usage patterns.

2. Deployment Options: Another difference lies in the deployment options provided by both platforms. Amazon API Gateway is a fully managed service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS), which means that AWS handles the infrastructure and maintenance. Apigee, on the other hand, offers both cloud-based deployment and on-premises deployment options. This flexibility allows organizations to choose the deployment option that aligns with their specific requirements and preferences.

3. Integration Capabilities: When it comes to integration capabilities, Amazon API Gateway and Apigee differ in terms of the number and types of integrations they offer. Amazon API Gateway has seamless integrations with other Amazon Web Services (AWS) products, such as AWS Lambda, AWS DynamoDB, and AWS S3. Apigee, on the other hand, offers a wide range of integrations with various backend systems, including databases, enterprise applications, and third-party services. This difference in integration capabilities allows organizations to choose the platform that can easily integrate with their existing systems.

4. Developer Portal Features: Both Amazon API Gateway and Apigee provide developer portal features, but they differ in terms of the level of customization and control offered. Amazon API Gateway provides a basic developer portal that allows developers to access API documentation and test APIs. Apigee, on the other hand, offers a more advanced developer portal that allows organizations to customize the look and feel, add custom content, and provide self-service capabilities for developers. This difference in developer portal features allows organizations to provide a more tailored and comprehensive developer experience.

5. Analytics and Monitoring: Another key difference lies in the analytics and monitoring capabilities of Amazon API Gateway and Apigee. Amazon API Gateway provides basic API usage and performance metrics, which can be integrated with other AWS monitoring and analytics services. Apigee, on the other hand, offers advanced analytics and monitoring capabilities, including real-time API monitoring, customizable dashboards, and the ability to track API usage by individual developers and applications. This difference in analytics and monitoring capabilities allows organizations to gain deeper insights into their APIs and make data-driven decisions.

6. Security and Access Control: Lastly, Amazon API Gateway and Apigee differ in terms of their security and access control features. Amazon API Gateway provides basic security features, such as API key-based authentication and HTTPS encryption. Apigee, on the other hand, offers more advanced security features, including OAuth 2.0 authentication, threat protection, and fine-grained access control policies. This difference in security and access control allows organizations to implement stronger security measures and protect their APIs from potential threats.

In summary, Amazon API Gateway offers a fully managed platform for creating, publishing, and securing APIs with seamless integration into the AWS ecosystem. Apigee, a comprehensive API management platform under Google Cloud, provides advanced features such as analytics, security, and developer collaboration, making it suitable for organizations seeking a holistic approach to API lifecycle management.