Dandelion vs KrakenD: What are the differences?

# Introduction
Dandelion and KrakenD are two popular API gateways that provide different features and functionalities to manage APIs effectively. Below are the key differences between Dandelion and KrakenD.

1. **Open Source vs. Commercial License**: One of the main differences between Dandelion and KrakenD is their licensing. Dandelion is an open-source API gateway, meaning it can be accessed and modified freely by anyone. On the other hand, KrakenD is offered under a commercial license, which may come with additional costs for certain features or support.

2. **Community Support vs. Professional Support**: Another significant difference is the support model provided by Dandelion and KrakenD. Dandelion relies on community-driven support, where users can seek help from forums and online communities. In contrast, KrakenD offers professional support options, including dedicated customer service and technical assistance, making it suitable for enterprises with specific requirements.

3. **Scalability and Performance**: When it comes to scalability and performance, KrakenD is known for its high performance and scalability capabilities, making it ideal for handling a large number of API requests efficiently. Dandelion, while still capable of scaling, may not offer the same level of performance optimization as KrakenD in high-demand environments.

4. **Features and Extensions**: Dandelion and KrakenD have different sets of features and extensions that cater to various API management needs. KrakenD, being a commercial product, may include advanced features such as API caching, rate limiting, and security protocols out of the box. Dandelion, being open-source, may require additional plugins or custom development to achieve similar functionalities.

5. **Ease of Use and Configuration**: In terms of ease of use and configuration, Dandelion is known for its user-friendly interface and straightforward setup process, which may appeal to developers looking for a simple solution. Conversely, KrakenD may offer more configuration options and customization possibilities, suitable for organizations with complex API requirements and specific integration needs.

6. **Deployment Options**: Finally, the deployment options differ between Dandelion and KrakenD. Dandelion can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud, providing flexibility for organizations with varying infrastructures. KrakenD, being a commercial product, may offer additional deployment options such as managed services or containerized deployments for easier scalability and maintenance.

In Summary, Dandelion and KrakenD differ in their licensing models, support options, performance capabilities, feature sets, ease of use, and deployment options, catering to different API management needs and preferences.