Gravitee.io vs Kong: What are the differences?

Introduction

Gravitee.io and Kong are both popular API management platforms that provide solutions for designing, securing, and monitoring APIs. While they serve similar purposes, there are key differences between them that make each platform unique.

1. Architecture: Gravitee.io uses a modular and extensible architecture that allows users to customize and extend the platform according to their specific requirements. On the other hand, Kong follows a plugin-based architecture that enables users to add custom features and functionalities by leveraging plugins.

2. Community and Support: Gravitee.io has a smaller but highly active and supportive community that focuses on providing assistance and sharing knowledge with users. Kong, on the other hand, has a larger community and a dedicated support team, offering extensive documentation, forums, and professional services.

3. Ease of Use: Gravitee.io prioritizes simplicity and ease of use by providing a user-friendly interface and intuitive workflows. Kong, while also user-friendly, offers a more feature-rich environment with a steeper learning curve due to the number of advanced features it offers.

4. Open Source: Gravitee.io is fully open-source, which means users have complete access to the source code and can customize it to suit their needs. Kong, on the other hand, has both open-source and enterprise versions, with some advanced features and support available exclusively in the enterprise edition.

5. Analytics and Monitoring: Gravitee.io offers comprehensive API analytics and monitoring capabilities out of the box, allowing users to gain insights into API usage and performance. Kong, while also providing analytics, offers more advanced monitoring and visualization options through its plugins and integrations.

6. Integration Ecosystem: Gravitee.io provides a range of out-of-the-box integrations with popular third-party tools and services, making it easier to integrate with existing systems. Kong also offers various integrations but focuses more on integrations with the Kong ecosystem, which includes plugins, modules, and service mesh solutions.

In summary, Gravitee.io focuses on a modular architecture, ease of use, and extensibility, with a vibrant community. Kong offers a plugin-based architecture, a larger community, and a feature-rich environment with advanced monitoring capabilities and various integrations.