Kong vs Tyk Cloud: What are the differences?

Key differences between Kong and Tyk Cloud

Kong and Tyk Cloud are API gateways that provide various features for managing and securing APIs. However, they have several key differences that set them apart.

1. Deployment options: Kong can be deployed on-premises, as a hybrid solution, or on various cloud platforms, giving users more flexibility in choosing the deployment model that suits their needs. On the other hand, Tyk Cloud is a fully managed cloud-based API gateway, which means it eliminates the need for users to handle the installation and maintenance of the gateway.

2. Pricing model: Kong offers both open-source and enterprise editions. The open-source edition of Kong is free to use, while the enterprise edition requires a subscription plan with pricing based on the number of nodes and support required. Tyk Cloud, on the other hand, follows a usage-based pricing model, where users pay based on the number of API requests processed and additional features required.

3. Rate limiting and throttling: Kong provides granular control over rate limiting and throttling, allowing users to set limits on the number of requests per minute, hour, or day for different APIs or consumers. Tyk Cloud, on the other hand, offers rate limiting based on the number of requests per minute and does not provide throttling capabilities.

4. Authentication and authorization: Kong supports various authentication mechanisms, including OAuth2, JWT, and Basic Auth, allowing users to secure their APIs using different authentication schemes. Additionally, Kong integrates with popular identity providers like Okta and Keycloak. Tyk Cloud also supports authentication using OAuth2 and JWT, but it does not have out-of-the-box integrations with identity providers, limiting the options for authentication.

5. Developer portal: Kong provides a built-in developer portal, which allows API developers to create interactive documentation, manage API keys, and enable self-service registration for developers. Tyk Cloud, on the other hand, does not offer a built-in developer portal, requiring users to use third-party solutions or custom development.

6. Analytics and monitoring: Kong provides built-in analytics and monitoring features, allowing users to gain insights into API traffic, performance, and errors. It also supports integration with third-party monitoring tools like Datadog and Prometheus. Tyk Cloud also offers analytics and monitoring capabilities, including request-level logs and key performance indicators, but it lacks some advanced features provided by Kong, such as custom plugins for data visualization and log forwarding to external services.

In summary, Kong offers more deployment options, a flexible pricing model, advanced rate limiting and throttling capabilities, broader authentication options, a built-in developer portal, and extensive analytics and monitoring features compared to Tyk Cloud. However, Tyk Cloud provides a fully managed solution and has simpler pricing based on API request usage.