API Gateways
Introducing major server software and middleware in the API Gateways category.
| No | Name | Description | Trend | Difficulty | Ecosystem | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kong Gateway | High-performance API Gateway and service connectivity platform. Integrates microservices, serverless, and legacy workloads. Extensible with plugin ecosystem. | Leader in API Gateway market. Adopted by many Fortune 500 companies. Highly rated for flexibility in cloud-native and hybrid environments. | intermediate | growing | Official |
| 2 | Ambassador | Kubernetes-native API Gateway. Based on Envoy proxy, provides GitOps workflows, canary deployments, and rate limiting capabilities. | Standard choice for API Gateway in Kubernetes environments. Rapid growth with developer-friendly configuration and CNCF ecosystem integration. Commercial version deployed as EdgeStack. | intermediate | growing | Official |
| 3 | Netflix Zuul | Java-based API Gateway developed by Netflix. Provides dynamic routing, monitoring, resilience, and security features. Integration with Spring Cloud. | Standard choice in Spring Boot environments. Adopted in many Java projects as part of Netflix OSS (Open Source Software). Zuul 2 implements Non-blocking I/O. | intermediate | growing | Official |
| 4 | Istio | Service mesh platform. Comprehensive microservices management including API Gateway functionality. Integrates traffic management, security, and observability. | De facto standard for service mesh. Most adopted solution for microservices management in Kubernetes environments. CNCF graduated project. | intermediate | growing | Official |
| 5 | AWS API Gateway | Fully managed API management service. Supports REST and WebSocket APIs, integrates auto-scaling, monitoring, and security features. Serverless compatible. | Standard API Gateway in AWS ecosystem. High affinity with serverless architecture, popular with Lambda integration. Expanding adoption for operational cost reduction. | intermediate | growing | Official |
| 6 | Azure API Management | Microsoft's enterprise API management platform. Supports hybrid and multi-cloud, provides developer portal and detailed analytics capabilities. | Strong position in enterprise market. Supports corporate digital transformation through integration with Microsoft 365 and Azure AD. Core tool for API-first strategy. | intermediate | growing | Official |