18.2
Amazon API Gateway is a managed service for creating, publishing, maintaining, monitoring, and securing APIs that connect applications with backend services.
Free planAndroidiOSWeb
Best Rest APIs in 2026
REST API tools help teams route APIs through gateways, publish developer documentation and manage deployments. Compare API spec support, gateway features, role-based access and analytics retention. The listed platform options are web, Linux, API, self-hosted, Windows and macOS.
28.0
Mintlify is a documentation and knowledge platform for developers and AI agents.
Free planWebAPILinux
37.6
Postman is a platform for designing, testing, distributing, documenting, and monitoring APIs.
Free planWebExtensionLinux
- 4
SwaggerHub
SwaggerHub is a toolkit for API design, testing, documentation, and governance.
Free planWebSelf-hosted7.1From $740 a year - 5
Redocly
WebAPIExtension7.0From $10 a month - 6
Kong Gateway
Kong Gateway is an open-source API gateway designed for microservices and distributed architectures in hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.7Free plan - 7
ReadMe
Free planWeb6.7From $250 a month - 8
Apiman
Apiman is open-source API management software for managing API access, discovery, and governance across the API lifecycle.
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.4Free plan - 9
Bump.sh
Bump.sh is a paid web, API, and self-hosted service for publishing API documentation and providing MCP servers that update with API releases.
WebAPISelf-hosted6.4From $50 a month - 10
KrakenD API Gateway
KrakenD API Gateway is a stateless, distributed gateway for connecting, protecting, combining and transforming APIs and AI workloads.
Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows6.4Free plan - 11
Stoplight Elements
Free planWebSelf-hosted6.4Free plan - 12
Fusio
Fusio is a free, open-source API management platform for connecting business logic and infrastructure to APIs.
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.3Free plan - 13
Kong Konnect
WebLinuxmacOSWindows6.2From $25 a month - 14
Google Cloud API Gateway
Google Cloud API Gateway provides a managed entry point for backend services, presenting them through a consistent REST API.
WebAPI6.1From $1.50 a month - 15
Tyk API Management
Tyk API Management is a platform for developing, operating, governing, and publishing APIs.
WebAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.1 - 16
API7 Enterprise
API7 Enterprise manages API lifecycle workflows across teams and environments, using an Apache APISIX data plane with centralized management.
WebAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.0 - 17
Gravitee API Management
WebLinuxWindows5.9From $2,500 a month - 18
Apache APISIX
Apache APISIX is an open-source gateway for routing, securing, and managing traffic to APIs, microservices, and LLM workloads.
APILinuxSelf-hosted5.8 - 19
5.8From $365 a month - 205.8From $83 a month
- 21
Sensedia API Management
Sensedia API Management provides centralized tools to see, govern, secure, monitor, and manage APIs.
WebAPISelf-hosted5.8 - 22
WSO2 API Manager
WebLinuxmacOSWindows5.3 - 23
5.2 - 24
Alibaba Cloud API Gateway
Alibaba Cloud API Gateway is a web-based cloud service for managing APIs.
Web5.1 - 255.0
Choosing well
Compare free access and paid entry
Check whether a tool offers a free plan or a trial before committing. Pricing models include free, freemium and paid options.
Published examples include Amazon API Gateway from $1, Google Cloud API Gateway from $3, Bump.sh from $50 per month with a 14-day trial, and Google Apigee from $13 with a 60-day trial.
Match deployment to your setup
Review whether the service runs on the web, Linux, Windows or macOS, or supports API and self-hosted deployment.
Self-hosting can matter when your team needs to place the gateway in its own environment. Confirm the deployment method fits your infrastructure before choosing.
Check gateway and API standards
Compare API gateway support with the API specifications your team uses. A matching specification can reduce conversion work when publishing or updating endpoints.
A developer portal can give API consumers a place to find documentation. Check that its publishing workflow fits your team.
Review access control and analytics
Role-based access helps separate permissions for teams and API consumers. Check which roles and controls are available for your workflow.
Analytics retention differs by service. Confirm how long usage data remains available when you need historical reports.
Consider open-source options
Open-source choices on the list include Apache APISIX, Apiman and Fusio. If you need to read or change the code, check the licence and the deployment work involved.
Questions people ask
Can I start without paying?
A free plan is available from listed tools, including Amazon API Gateway, Apache APISIX, Apiman, Fusio and Google Cloud API Gateway. Availability and limits depend on the product.
Are self-hosted deployments available?
Self-hosted deployment is one of the platform options covered by this list. Check the individual product's deployment details before choosing.
Do these tools support API gateways?
API gateway support is one of the comparison fields. Products differ in how they handle gateway functions, so review the details for your intended API setup.
Which tools offer trials?
Bump.sh lists a 14-day trial, while Google Apigee lists a 60-day trial. Trial terms can vary, so confirm them with the provider.