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WSO2 API Manager vs KrakenD Comparison

Last updated:

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…

KrakenD

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Medium Business

KrakenD is lightweight, Software-as-a-service API management software. It makes it easy to rapidly build, secure and manage APIs, with programmable access rules, fast deployment times, high scalability, and security feat…

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

WSO2 API Manager vs KrakenD — at a glance

FeatureWSO2 API ManagerKrakenD
Rating4.1 / 5
Reviews126
Starting price$2,000Contact for pricing
Free trial Yes No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryAPI Management SoftwareAPI Management Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - AndroidSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep)Online
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between WSO2 API Manager and KrakenD

  • Pricing: WSO2 API Manager starts at $2,000. KrakenD pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: WSO2 API Manager offers a free trial; KrakenD does not.
  • Target audience: WSO2 API Manager is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while KrakenD targets Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business.
  • Deployment: WSO2 API Manager supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android; KrakenD supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

WSO2 API Manager vs KrakenD — 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.

WSO2 API Manager - API Management Software
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Talk to an expert
KrakenD - API Management Software
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Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

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.

KrakenD

Lightweight SaaS API management for fast, secure, and scalable deployments.

Choose if
  • You need rapid API deployment with minimal setup complexity.
  • Your team consists of backend developers or API architects.
  • You require strong security and compliance features with programmable access rules.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a large enterprise needing extensive governance and process-heavy workflows.
  • Your team lacks API development expertise or is non-technical.

WSO2 API Manager: Best for large enterprises needing highly customizable, secure API management. KrakenD: Lightweight SaaS API management for fast, secure, and scalable deployments.

Description

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

KrakenD is lightweight, Software-as-a-service API management software. It makes it easy to rapidly build, secure and manage APIs, with programmable access rules, fast deployment times, high ... Read More about KrakenD

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $2,000
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.2/10

8.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

51-500 employees500+ employees
1-50 employees51-500 employees
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Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

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How do WSO2 API Manager and KrakenD Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare WSO2 API Manager and KrakenD 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

      • $2,000
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • TRIAL

        • API calls per month: 1 million

        • Number of pre-prod environments included: 0

      • MICRO

        • API calls per month: 20 million

        • Number of pre-prod environments included: 0

      • STANDARD

        • API calls per month: 100 million

        • Number of pre-prod environments included: 1

      • Browse all pricing plans
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      WSO2 API Manager pricing

      Pricing information not available

      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

      • Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

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

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      WSO2 API Manager User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      No reviews available for the product

      Rating Distribution

      49

      18

      0

      0

      0

      No reviews available for this product

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      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

      Buyer sentiment

      Insufficient user reviews to determine overall sentiment.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of deployment
      • Scalability
      • Security features

      Common complaints

      • Lack of pricing clarity
      • Limited user feedback

      Pros and Cons

      • 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

      • Fast deployment times

      • High scalability

      • Strong security and compliance features

      • Limited publicly available pricing information

      • Potentially limited advanced enterprise features

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      American Express

      American Express

      ebay

      ebay

      Motorola

      Motorola

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Pizza Shack API

      4 Screenshots

      Dashboard

      1 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to WSO2 API Manager and KrakenD in 2026

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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, WSO2 API Manager or KrakenD?
      WSO2 API Manager edges out the other on user ratings (4.1 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do WSO2 API Manager and KrakenD offer a free trial?
      WSO2 API Manager offers a free trial. KrakenD does not.
      What is the starting price of WSO2 API Manager vs KrakenD?
      WSO2 API Manager starts at $2,000. KrakenD starts at Contact for pricing.
      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.
      What are the top alternatives to KrakenD?
      Top alternatives to KrakenD include 3scale, Apigee Edge, Kong, WSO2 API Manager, Tyk API Management Platform.

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