Best API Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Gravitee API Gateway is ranked #1 of 28 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Algolia and Kong Gateway. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Algolia. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Algolia at $0.50/mo.
Managing APIs involves more than making endpoints available: the listed products cover governance, visibility, lifecycle and developer-facing work. Compare access policies, API analytics, catalog and product management to see which aspects are represented, then look at lifecycle management and developer portals. Deployment model can shape how an option fits your environment, while free plans and paid-from pricing add cost considerations. The ranking begins with Gravitee API Gateway, Algolia and Kong Gateway, followed by Tyk API Management and Apigee API hub. Use these criteria to weigh the management features and deployment choices that matter to your API work.
28 API management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Gravitee API Gateway Top pick · 7.2 Free plan · $2,500/mo
#2 Algolia Runner-up · 7.1 Free plan · $0.50/mo
#3 Kong Gateway Also great · 7.1 Free plan · Free
- Free plan apiLinuxself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 2,500 /mo
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$2,500/mofirst paid tier About Gravitee API GatewayVisit site - Free plan AndroidapiiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$0.50/mofirst paid tier About AlgoliaVisit site - Free planFree trial apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 25 /mo
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan apiWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$1.50/mofirst paid tier About Google Cloud EndpointsVisit site - Free trial extensionLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$119/mofirst paid tier About WSO2 API DesignerVisit site - WebWindowsLinux
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 99 /mo
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$99/mofirst paid tier About BoomiVisit site - Free trial apiself-hostedWebRecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$2.50/mofirst paid tier About DigitalAPIVisit site
- Web
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - apiself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 5 /mo
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - api
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 1,500 /mo
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Developer portal
- Yes
- Lifecycle management
- Yes
- Access policies
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which API management software is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
Gravitee API Gateway is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 7.2. Algolia is second and Kong Gateway third.
How many of these have a free plan?
5 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Algolia has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.50/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.