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Best API Gateway Tools 2026: Kong vs Apache APISIX vs Tyk vs AWS API Gateway

An API gateway sits between your clients and your backend services — handling authentication, rate limiting, request routing, and observability in one place. In a microservices architecture, the API gateway is the single entry point that keeps complexity away from clients. This comparison covers the leading API gateway solutions, from lightweight open source to fully managed cloud services.

Quick Comparison

Feature Kong Apache APISIX Tyk AWS API Gateway

Type Open source + Enterprise Open source (Apache 2.0) Open source + Managed Fully managed (AWS)

Language Lua (OpenResty) Lua (OpenResty) / Wasm Go Managed service

Plugin Ecosystem 200+ plugins (largest ecosystem) 80+ plugins (growing fast) 40+ plugins Native AWS integrations

Custom Plugins Lua, Go, JavaScript, Python, Wasm…