Alibaba Cloud API Gateway
Alibaba Cloud API Gateway is a web-based cloud service for managing APIs.
What Alibaba Cloud API Gateway is
Alibaba Cloud API Gateway is a web-based cloud service for managing APIs. It supports HTTP, HTTPS, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, WebSocket, and gRPC protocols. Authentication options include AppCode, digest authentication, JWT, mutual TLS, and custom authentication. Rate limiting and request transformation are included capabilities. Alibaba Cloud lists Serverless API calls, Cloud-native dedicated apigw.dev.x1 subscription, and Cloud-native dedicated apigw.dev.x1 pay-as-you-go plans. Serverless API calls provides 1 million free calls per calendar month for the first year. The dedicated subscription option includes a dedicated gateway instance and built-in Server Load Balancer, while the pay-as-you-go option bills hourly for a dedicated gateway instance. Both dedicated plans use Chinese mainland reference pricing, and listed prices are not provided. Alibaba Cloud was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Hangzhou, China.
Good
- Supports HTTP, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, and gRPC
- Multiple authentication methods
- Rate limiting and request transformation
- Serverless plan includes first-year free calls
- Dedicated subscription includes built-in load balancing
Watch out
- No free plan
- Listed plan prices are not provided
- Dedicated plans reference Chinese mainland pricing
- Cloud deployment only
Who it suits
It suits teams managing APIs in a cloud deployment model that need multiple protocols, authentication choices, rate limiting, and request transformation. The plans also cover serverless calls and dedicated gateway instances.
Verdict
Alibaba Cloud API Gateway combines broad protocol support with authentication and traffic controls. Plan structure varies between serverless and dedicated gateways, so deployment needs should guide selection.
Plans and prices
From Alibaba Cloud API Gateway's own pricing page, checked 20 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Serverless API calls | Priced on request | 1 million calls free per calendar month for the first year |
| Cloud-native dedicated apigw.dev.x1 subscription | Priced on request | Dedicated gateway instance · Built-in Server Load Balancer · Chinese mainland reference pricing |
| Cloud-native dedicated apigw.dev.x1 pay-as-you-go | Priced on request | Hourly pay-as-you-go billing · Dedicated gateway instance · Chinese mainland reference pricing |
The facts
Each one read from Alibaba Cloud API Gateway's own pages, with the date it was checked.
The company
- Founded
- 1999checked 4 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Hangzhou, Chinachecked 4 Oct 2026
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