All comparisons
API Gateway Comparison
Gatefull vs Azure API Management
Gatefull vs Azure APIM – Simple API Gateway Without Cloud Lock-in
Overview
Azure API Management is Microsoft's API gateway and management platform. It integrates deeply with Azure services but brings complexity and significant costs. Gatefull offers a straightforward, cloud-agnostic alternative at a fraction of the price.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gatefull | Azure API Management |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 10 minutes | 15-45 minutes |
| Pricing Model | Transparent from $19/mo | Tiered ($50-$2,500+/mo) |
| Starting Price | $19/month | ~$50/mo (Dev) / ~$700/mo (Standard) |
| Self-Hosted Option | Self-hosted gateway option | |
| Managed Cloud | ||
| OAuth 2.0 Built-in | ||
| Rate Limiting | ||
| Multi-Tenancy | Via workspaces | |
| Audit Logging | Via Azure Monitor | |
| Admin Dashboard | Azure Portal | |
| API Catalog Management | ||
| No Monthly Request Limits | ||
| Consumer Management | Via subscriptions | |
| Open Source |
Azure API Management Strengths
- Deep Azure and Microsoft ecosystem integration
- Built-in developer portal
- Policy-based request/response transformation
Azure API Management Weaknesses
- Expensive – Developer tier starts at ~$50/month, Standard at ~$700/month
- Vendor lock-in to Azure ecosystem
- Complex policy XML configuration
- Slow provisioning (15-45 minutes for new instances)
Gatefull Advantages
- From $19/month vs $700+/month for production Azure APIM
- Instant setup vs 15-45 minute Azure provisioning
- Cloud-agnostic – proxy to any backend on any cloud
- Simple configuration vs XML policy files
- No Azure expertise required
Switch from Azure API Management to Gatefull
Start free for 30 days. No credit card required. Production-ready in 10 minutes.