An API gateway handles incoming requests and directs them based on factors like the request path, headers, and query parameters. Modern distributed systems have made an API gateway indispensable.

This blog explains what an API gateway is, how to choose the best one, and the benefits of using an API gateway. It also highlights some of the top API gateways available.

Let’s get started!

What is an API Gateway?

An API Gateway is like the main door for outside users to access the application. It's a tool that receives requests from users and directs them to the right places within the application. It could direct requests to specific parts of the server, third-party apps, databases, or other functions.

The API Gateway is important because it hides the application's internal structure, protecting it while allowing users to interact with the app. It is the first to receive an API request from an external user, then sorts and sends it to the right place within the application.

How to Select the Best API Gateway for Organizations?

As an Application security engineer, when choosing the best API Gateway for your organization, there are several factors you should consider:

1. Security

The API Gateway should offer robust security features such as authentication and encryption to protect the APIs from unauthorized access and potential cyber threats.

2. Scalability

As the application grows, the number of API calls will increase. The API Gateway should efficiently handle this increased traffic and scale according to your needs.

3. Performance

The API Gateway should have high performance and low latency to ensure a fast and smooth user experience.

4. Ease of Use

The API Gateway should be easy to set up and manage. It should have a user-friendly interface and offer comprehensive documentation and support.

5. Integration

The API Gateway should easily integrate with the organization’s existing infrastructure and be compatible with the technology stack.

6. Customization

Depending on the organization’s specific needs, security engineers can customize the behavior of the API Gateway. Check if the API Gateway allows for such customizations.

7. Cost

Finally, consider the cost of the API Gateway. Make sure it fits within the organization’s budget. Some API Gateways charge based on the number of API calls, while others might have a flat fee.

Benefits of Using API Gateways

Now, let's explore the benefits of API Gateway technology as follows:

1. API Traffic Management

Picture this: an API gateway is a central entry point directing incoming requests to the right endpoints. This optimizes traffic flow and ensures that target endpoints share the workload appropriately.

2. Protocol Translation

An API Gateway serves as a translation layer, enabling different protocols to communicate seamlessly. This streamlined data exchange process enhances the efficiency of interactions between the organization and its backend services, making integration straightforward and flexible.

3. Caching

Caching frequently stores commonly accessed data, reducing the workload on organizations’s backend infrastructure and leading to improved performance and efficiency.

4. Load Balancing

Utilizing an API Gateway to distribute incoming requests across multiple backend service instances improves the organization’s service's ability to handle varying demands (scalability) and ensures its accessibility (availability).

5. Developer Portal

As a developer and security engineer, you'll benefit from a comprehensive developer portal that an API Gateway provides. This portal offers seamless API discovery along with testing and consumption tools, extensive documentation, code examples, and other valuable resources to accelerate the development process.

10 Best API Gateways for Organizations

Now let's look at the best API gateways based on technical features and industry recognition:

1. Apache APISIX

Apache APISIX utilizes Nginx and etcd to efficiently handle traffic, balance loads, and enforce security measures while maintaining high performance.

Designed to handle HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, and UDP protocols, it provides security engineers and developers with a versatile architecture suitable for various applications.

‍Key Features:

• Provides modern traffic management features such as load balancing, dynamic upstream, canary release, and circuit breaking.

• Incorporates thorough security protocols, making it compatible with different authentication methods and observability functionalities.

• Achieves high-speed system synchronization and minimal latency through radix tree route matching and etcd.

• Enables real-time configuration updates without system restarts by supporting hot updates and plugin loading.

2. Amazon API Gateway

Amazon API Gateway is a comprehensive platform that simplifies the development and management of APIs. It provides a single point of access for creating, deploying, securing, and monitoring APIs of any scale.

Key Features:

• The gateway connects the APIs to backend systems, allowing organizations to access their data and functionality.

• It supports RESTful and WebSocket APIs, facilitating real-time communication.

• API Gateway streamlines API management regardless of the application type (containerized, serverless, or web).

• It manages traffic routing, cross-origin resource sharing (CORS), authorization, throttling, monitoring, and API version control, simplifying the process for developers and security engineers.

Amazon API Gateway does not charge any fixed fees or initial expenses to get started. Instead, organizations only pay for the API calls they receive and the data that is transferred.

3. Azure API Management

Azure API Management is a hybrid platform that seamlessly connects API management across multiple cloud and on-premises environments. It provides a unified platform for managing APIs deployed in Azure, other cloud providers, and local systems.

Key Features:

• It optimizes API traffic, ensuring compliance and security while offering a centralized management experience.

• It provides comprehensive insights into all internal and external APIs.

• It offers customizable developer portals for improved API discoverability and can turn legacy web services into modern REST-based APIs for seamless integration.

4. Google API Gateway

Google API Gateway empowers organizations to streamline the development, deployment, security, and management of APIs that seamlessly connect to serverless backends on Google Cloud, such as Cloud Functions, Cloud Run, and App Engine.

Leveraging the robust Envoy platform, API Gateway delivers superior performance and scalability, enabling organizations to create high-quality applications without the added burden of managing infrastructure complexities.

Key Features:

• Google's API gateway enables organizations to create, manage, and control APIs for both internal consumption and external access.

• Built-in security measures such as authentication and key verification protect published APIs.

• Application security engineers gain insights into API usage by monitoring API performance through monitoring, logging, and tracing services.

5. Kong Gateway

Kong Gateway is a friendly API gateway tailored for cloud-based applications. Utilizing the established open-source technology, it features an NGINX engine that delivers exceptional performance, capable of processing over 50,000 requests per node each second.

Kong Gateway effortlessly adapts to diverse computing settings, including hybrid and multi-cloud environments, while seamlessly integrating with microservices and distributed architectures.

Key Features:

• It allows for flexible installation regardless of the environment or platform, supporting various models, such as on-premises, cloud, Kubernetes, and serverless.

• It provides pre-built plugins for security, authentication, data manipulation, and analysis, giving security engineers fine-tuned control over API interactions.

• It also lets security teams easily create custom plugins using Kong's Plugin Development Kit.

6. Boomi API Management

Boom API Management features a comprehensive platform that lets organizations manage all APIs in one place. It simplifies API deployment and management throughout their lifecycle in various environments.

The user-friendly interface enables configuring APIs and seamlessly integrating real-time data.

Key Features:

• Boomi offers key functions such as versioning, mediation, authentication, engagement, application management, and API monitoring.

• It seamlessly integrates with the Boomi AtomSphere platform and other Boomi services while offering an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface.

• It prioritizes data security and governance by leveraging its API Gateway feature, facilitating controlled access to data.

7. WSO2 API Manager

WSO2 API Manager provides a one-stop solution for all API management tasks, making it easy for security teams to collaborate. Teams can use it for API design, product management, operations, and consumer engagement.

The platform works in various environments, including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid setups.

Key Features:

• WSO2 API Manager ensures seamless interoperability between systems using modern approaches like REST, GraphQL, and AsyncAPIs.

• It provides advanced integration support, such as transformation, message routing, streaming data processing, and service orchestration.

• WSO2 API Manager caters to diverse enterprise needs and sizes with its user-friendly extensibility and customizability.

8. IBM API Connect

IBM API Connect is a comprehensive API management tool that seamlessly connects to the IBM DataPower Gateway. This gateway, renowned for its robust security features, empowers organizations to manage and control access to your APIs securely.

It protects sensitive data and applications across diverse environments, including both on-premises and cloud-based deployments.

Key Features:

• The solution secures organizations by protecting against threats using a secure connection.

• It employs various identity verification methods, including OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and JWT.

• It accelerates development by providing an easy way to add new services with built-in protocol and data transformation capabilities.

9. MuleSoft Anypoint Flex Gateway

Anypoint Flex Gateway is a robust platform for managing and securing APIs seamlessly across different environments. It works with all types of APIs and facilitates seamless integration with DevOps and CI/CD processes.

With this gateway, organizations can effortlessly manage API services of any size or complexity, regardless of which programming language or cloud platform they use. This ensures consistent security and ease of management.

Key Features:

• Anypoint Flex Gateway works with various architectural designs, including monolithic and microservices, and is compatible with environments that use containers or cloud-native setups.

• It integrates seamlessly with CI/CD processes for streamlined management.

• It provides comprehensive security measures, including authentication, quality of service, and traffic controls. The gateway incorporates zero-trust principles for elevated security.

10. Apinto Microservice Gateway

Written in the Go language, the Apinto API gateway handles microservices and offers a comprehensive set of features for API management. It incorporates authentication mechanisms, API security measures, and flow control capabilities.

Apinto Microservice enhances performance through dynamic routing and load balancing. The creators claim that Apinto outperforms Nginx and Kong by up to 50%.

Key Features:

• Apinto offers multiple capabilities, including support for HTTP forwarding, management of numerous tenants, access control, and API access management. These features make it well-suited for microservices or development projects with diverse user groups.

• It provides customization options for specific users with a versatile user-defined plugin system and offers unique features, including a dashboard and an API health check.

Final Thoughts

API Gateways play a crucial role in managing and securing API interactions in modern distributed systems. Organizations should prioritize security, scalability, performance, and ease of integration when they select the correct gateway. API Gateways offer numerous benefits, including effective traffic management, protocol translation, and enhanced security measures. By choosing the right solution, organizations streamline their API management processes, ensuring a robust and efficient framework for application development and communication.