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3scale vs WSO2 API Manager Comparison

Last updated:

3scale

3.9(10 reviews)

Starting at $750 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

3scale API Management Software enables businesses to easily manage APIs, providing a complete toolset for publishing, managing and monetizing APIs. 3scale provides a complete toolset for publishing, managing and monetizi…

View PricingRead Reviews

WSO2 API Manager

4.1(126 reviews)

Starting at $2,000

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

WSO2 API Manager is an open source API management platform that enables enterprises to expose their APIs for business-to-consumer and business-to-business services, via a well-designed user interface. A well-designed pro…

View PricingRead Reviews

WSO2 API Manager leads on user satisfaction with a 4.1-star rating across 126 reviews.

SpotSaaS Analysis

3scaleWSO2 API Manager

The core difference lies in 3scale's focus on comprehensive API management and monetization for medium to large enterprises, while WSO2 API Manager emphasizes deep customization and security for large organizations. Ideal buyers for 3scale are medium to large enterprises with dedicated API teams, whereas WSO2 is best suited for large enterprises that prioritize security and customization.

- Best for medium to large enterprises - Comprehensive API management toolset - Focus on API monetization - Ideal for organizations with dedicated API product managers - Price: $750 - Strong support for API lifecycle management

- Best for large enterprises - Highly customizable API management solution - Emphasizes security features like OAuth and JWT - Suitable for organizations requiring flexible API lifecycle management - Price: $2,000 - Robust native security capabilities

3scale vs WSO2 API Manager — at a glance

Feature3scaleWSO2 API Manager
Rating3.9 / 54.1 / 5
Reviews10126
Starting price$750 /Month$2,000
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryAPI Management SoftwareAPI Management Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android
API—Available
Support modesBusiness Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep)
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR, ISO 27001GDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between 3scale and WSO2 API Manager

  • Pricing: 3scale starts at $750 /Month, while WSO2 API Manager starts at $2,000.
  • User satisfaction: WSO2 API Manager scores higher with a 4.1-star average.
  • Deployment: 3scale supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; WSO2 API Manager supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android.

3scale vs WSO2 API Manager — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most API Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

3scale - API Management Software

3scale

(2)
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
WSO2 API Manager - API Management Software

WSO2 API Manager

(67)
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

3scale

Best for medium to large enterprises needing comprehensive API management and monetization.

Choose if
  • You require a full API lifecycle toolset including publishing, management, and monetization.
  • Your organization is medium-sized or larger with dedicated API product managers and developer teams.
  • You want flexible subscription options and a free trial to evaluate before committing.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a startup or very small business with limited API management needs.
  • You need highly customizable or niche API management features or simpler setup.

WSO2 API Manager

Best for large enterprises needing highly customizable, secure API management.

Choose if
  • You require deep customization and flexible API lifecycle management.
  • Your organization needs robust, native security features like OAuth and JWT.
  • You have dedicated technical teams to handle complex setup and configuration.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a small team or startup seeking simple, out-of-the-box API management.
  • Your organization lacks technical resources for initial complex configuration and ongoing maintenance.

3scale: Best for medium to large enterprises needing comprehensive API management and monetization. WSO2 API Manager: Best for large enterprises needing highly customizable, secure API management.

Description

3scale API Management Software enables businesses to easily manage APIs, providing a complete toolset for publishing, managing and monetizing APIs. 3scale provides a complete toolset for ... Read More about 3scale

WSO2 API Manager is an open source API management platform that enables enterprises to expose their APIs for business-to-consumer and business-to-business services, via a well-designed user ... Read More about WSO2 API Manager

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $750
  • Starts from $2,000

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.7/10

9.2/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

3.9

(10)

4.1

(126)

Best Company Size

Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises
51-500 employees500+ employees
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Software Demo

Demo

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How do 3scale and WSO2 API Manager Compare on Features?

Total Features

9 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare 3scale and WSO2 API Manager on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $750
      • $2,000

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available

      • TRIAL

        Get Started

        • API calls per month: 1 million

        • Number of pre-prod environments included: 0

      • MICRO

        Get Started

        • API calls per month: 20 million

        • Number of pre-prod environments included: 0

      • STANDARD

        Get Started

        • API calls per month: 100 million

        • Number of pre-prod environments included: 1

        • Browse all pricing plans

      Pricing Page

      3scale pricing
      WSO2 API Manager pricing
      View detailed pricing
      View detailed pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      —

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      ISO 27001

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      3scale User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      3.9

      (based on 10 reviews)

      4.1

      (based on 126 reviews)

      Rating Distribution

      1

      0

      1

      0

      0

      49

      18

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      User sentiment is mixed with appreciation for comprehensive features but concerns about pricing transparency and complexity.

      What buyers like

      • Feature completeness
      • Flexibility
      • Support for monetization

      Common complaints

      • Pricing opacity
      • Complexity of setup

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall positive sentiment highlighting flexibility, security, and comprehensive features, tempered by concerns about setup complexity and documentation.

      What buyers like

      • Flexibility and customizability
      • Security features
      • Ease of use

      Common complaints

      • Complex configuration
      • Documentation quality

      Pros and Cons

      • Comprehensive API management toolset covering publishing, management, and monetization

      • Supports multiple business sizes from medium to large enterprises

      • Offers free trial allowing evaluation before purchase

      • Limited publicly available pricing information complicates budgeting

      • Relatively low rating (3.9) with few reviews indicating mixed user satisfaction

      • Highly flexible and customizable platform

      • Comprehensive API lifecycle management features including security and analytics

      • Strong security mechanisms such as OAuth, JWT, and API key support

      • Complex initial configuration requiring multiple file changes

      • Documentation quality and clarity needing improvement

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Read reviews
      Read reviews

      List of Customers

      Customers

      No Customers information available.

      American Express

      American Express

      ebay

      ebay

      Motorola

      Motorola

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Pizza Shack API

      4 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      Top Alternatives to 3scale and WSO2 API Manager in 2026

      Alternatives

      Akana Platform - API Management Software
      Akana Platform

      4

      Apigee Edge - API Management Software
      Apigee Edge

      4.1

      IBM API Connect - API Management Software
      IBM API Connect

      3.2

      3scale - API Management Software
      3scale

      3.9

      Dell Boomi API Management - API Management Software
      Dell Boomi API Management
      Apigee Edge - API Management Software
      Apigee Edge

      4.1

      Expand your shortlist

      Add another option to compare side by side

      Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, 3scale or WSO2 API Manager?
      WSO2 API Manager edges out the other on user ratings (4.1 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do 3scale and WSO2 API Manager offer a free trial?
      Yes, both 3scale and WSO2 API Manager offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of 3scale vs WSO2 API Manager?
      3scale starts at $750 /Month. WSO2 API Manager starts at $2,000.
      What are the top alternatives to 3scale?
      Top alternatives to 3scale include Akana Platform, Apigee Edge, IBM API Connect, Kong, MuleSoft Anypoint Platform.
      What are the top alternatives to WSO2 API Manager?
      Top alternatives to WSO2 API Manager include 3scale, Dell Boomi API Management, Apigee Edge, IBM API Connect, Kong.

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