Backstage
6.8#3 in plugins & extensions softwareFree planFree planWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitBackstage vs Kong Konnect
Kong Konnect
7.0#2 in api catalog toolsFrom $25 a monthWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Backstage | Kong Konnect |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | The standalone installation guide creates a locally running app with an in-memory SQLite database and demo content, and says this setup is not production-ready. | Gateway infrastructure can be hybrid or Kong-managed in a selected cloud provider and region. |
| Intended users | Backstage is aimed at organizations whose product and engineering teams need a shared developer portal and software ecosystem catalog. | Konnect is positioned for platform builders and enables human and agentic builders to produce and consume APIs and enterprise connectivity. |
| Purpose | Backstage is an open-source framework for creating and deploying developer portals, originally created at Spotify. | Kong Konnect is a unified platform for managing API, AI, and event connectivity. |
| Security | Backstage's threat model recommends enabling only the authentication providers an instance uses and configuring sign-in resolvers carefully. | The product describes encryption and PII sanitization for API and agent transactions. |
Backstage plans
- Backstage open-source frameworkFree
Kong Konnect plans
- Free trialFree
- Plus - Serverless Gateway$25 a month
- Plus - Hybrid Gateway$200 a month
- Plus - Dedicated Cloud Gateway$500 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
- Plus (AI Management)$25 a month
Pick Backstage if…
It is aimed at organizations whose product and engineering teams need a shared developer portal and software catalog. Teams should be prepared to self-host and configure its security for their environment.
Pick Kong Konnect if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.