Top 6 Open-Source API Gateway Frameworks

Looking for the best open-source API gateway? Here’s a quick rundown of the top 6:

These frameworks offer key features like:

Request routing
Authentication
Rate limiting
Load balancing
Protocol translation

Quick Comparison:

Framework	Language	Key Feature	Best For
Kong	Lua	Many plugins	Large deployments
NGINX	C	Speed	High-traffic sites
Tyk	Go	User-friendly dashboard	Easy management
Express Gateway	JavaScript	Node.js compatible	JS dev teams
KrakenD	Go	No database required	Microservices
Apache APISIX	Lua	Cloud-native	Kubernetes setups

When choosing, consider:

Your team’s skills
Current tech stack
Specific project needs
Scalability requirements
Security features

Remember: Always test before committing to a framework.

API Gateway Basics

API gateways are the traffic cops of modern software. They’re especially crucial in microservices setups. Let’s break down what they do and why they matter.

Main Functions

Think of an API gateway as a bouncer at a club. It’s the first point of contact for all API requests. Here’s what it does:

Routes requests: Sends incoming calls to the right service
Balances load: Spreads traffic to keep things running smoothly
Keeps things secure: Checks IDs, controls access, and fights off bad guys

Take Netflix. They use an API gateway to handle requests from all their different apps. It’s like having one door that leads to many rooms.

Microservices Magic

In the world of microservices, API gateways are the glue that holds everything together. They:

1. Make life easier for clients: One door, many services

2. Allow for behind-the-scenes changes: Swap out services without the client noticing

3. Speak multiple languages: Translate between different protocols

Martin Buhr, CEO of Tyk, puts it this way:

“A microservices API gateway is necessary for a range of reasons. The additional layer of security that it provides is one, as is the fact that implementing a gateway can reduce the complexity of your microservices architecture and management.”

What to Look For

When shopping for an API gateway, keep an eye out for these features:

Feature	What It Does
Routing	Sends requests where they need to go
Security	Keeps the bad guys out
Traffic Control	Manages the flow of requests
Observability	Lets you see what’s happening
Transformation	Translates between different formats
Scalability	Handles lots of traffic without breaking a sweat

Some gateways, like Kong, can handle hundreds of thousands of API calls at once. That’s like being able to serve everyone in a packed stadium simultaneously.

How to Evaluate API Gateway Frameworks

Choosing the right API gateway framework is crucial. Here’s what to focus on:

Speed and Growth

API gateways need to handle heavy traffic. Look for:

High-volume performance
Ability to scale

For instance, Kong processes over 400 billion API calls daily. That’s serious scalability.

User Support and Guides

Good support can make your life easier:

Check community responsiveness
Look for clear, updated docs

ABAX found that user-friendly gateways cut training time, speeding up their market moves.

Safety Measures

Security is a must. Key features include:

Feature	Purpose
Access control	Blocks unauthorized users
Bot detection	Stops automated attacks
Threat protection	Guards against cyber threats

With API attacks expected to skyrocket by 2030, solid security is non-negotiable.

Don’t just read about features – test them. Axione saved hours monthly by picking a gateway that made quick, downtime-free config updates.

6 Top Open-Source API Gateway Frameworks

Let’s dive into six leading open-source API gateway frameworks:

Kong

Kong’s built on NGINX and uses Lua. Here’s what you need to know:

It’s fast and scalable
Uses plugins for extra features
Works well with microservices
BUT: Needs a database for config (adds complexity)

NGINX

NGINX is a popular choice. Why?

It’s FAST (2.6x more API calls/second than Kong for 1-KB responses)
Uses less CPU (40% less than Kong at 5,000 API calls/second)
Handles load balancing out of the box

Fun fact: Capital One uses NGINX for over 12 billion daily API calls.

Tyk

Tyk’s built with Golang. It offers:

A built-in API developer portal
Multiple auth methods
Uses Redis or MongoDB for storage

It’s got fewer GitHub stars than Kong, but users love its interface.

Express Gateway

Based on Express.js, this one’s great if you’re into Node.js:

Familiar Node.js environment
Quick to set up
Lightweight design

KrakenD

KrakenD’s a bit different:

No database needed (it’s stateless)
High performance
Comes with KrakenDesigner (a visual tool)

It’s popular for Backend for Frontend (BFF) in mobile and web apps.

Apache APISIX

The new kid on the block:

Built for the cloud
Supports multiple protocols
Works as a Kubernetes ingress controller

Here’s a quick comparison:

Framework	Language	Standout Feature	Ideal Use Case
Kong	Lua	Tons of plugins	Big deployments
NGINX	C	Speed	High-traffic sites
Tyk	Golang	Easy-to-use dashboard	Simple management
Express Gateway	JavaScript	Node.js friendly	JS dev teams
KrakenD	Go	No database needed	Microservices
Apache APISIX	Lua	Made for the cloud	Kubernetes setups

Choosing an API gateway? Think about what you need, what your team knows, and what you’re already using. And don’t forget to test before you commit!

Framework Comparison

Let’s compare six open-source API gateway frameworks:

Speed Tests

Performance matters. Here’s how they stack up:

Framework	Requests/Second	Latency (95th percentile)
API7 (Apache APISIX)	167,019	2.16 ms
Kong	137,850	3.82 ms
NGINX Plus	30,000	13 ms
Tyk	N/A	N/A
Express Gateway	N/A	N/A
KrakenD	N/A	N/A

API7 tops the charts. Kong’s not far behind. NGINX Plus? Steady, even under pressure.

Feature Comparison

What can these frameworks do?

Feature	API7	Kong	Tyk	NGINX Plus	Express Gateway	KrakenD
GraphQL Support	Yes	Limited	Strong	No	No	No
Kafka Support	Yes	Limited	Limited	No	No	Yes
gRPC Support	Yes	Limited	Not specified	Yes	No	Yes
WebSocket Support	Yes	Minimal	Partial	Yes	No	No
Developer Portal	Yes	Enterprise only	Enterprise only	No	No	No

Tyk shines with GraphQL. API7 and KrakenD? They’re protocol powerhouses.

User Support

Community can make or break your API gateway experience:

Kong: 300,000+ monthly instances, 15 million+ Docker downloads. It’s BIG.
Tyk: 4.8 stars on Gartner (77 reviews). Users love it.
API7: The new kid on the block, but gaining steam fast.
NGINX Plus: Handles 10% of global internet traffic. That’s no joke.
Express Gateway and KrakenD: Smaller crowds, but dedicated fans.

Choosing a framework? Consider your team’s skills, your tech stack, and your needs. And ALWAYS test before you commit.

Picking the Best Framework

What to Think About

When choosing an API gateway framework, look at:

Your current tech setup
Your team’s skills
Your project’s specific needs

For example, if your team knows Lua, Kong might work well. If you use Spring Framework, Spring Cloud Gateway could be a good fit.

How to Decide

Use this checklist:

Factor	Questions
Deployment	Self-hosted or SaaS?
Installation	Easy to set up?
Features	Meets core needs?
Customization	Can you extend it?
Upgrades	Easy to update?
Community	Good support?
Performance	Handles your traffic?
Security	Has needed safeguards?
Scalability	Grows with you?
Cost	Fits your budget?

Pro tip: Test your top picks. It’ll show you how they really work.

There’s no perfect solution for everyone. Pick what fits YOUR needs and long-term plans.

If speed is key, API7 or Kong might be best. Need GraphQL? Tyk could be your go-to.

Don’t forget about monitoring. Choose a framework with tools to track API use and performance. It’ll help you fix issues fast and keep things running smooth.

Setting Up and Improving API Gateways

Setup and Settings

When setting up an API gateway, focus on these key areas:

1. HTTPS Communication

Use HTTPS. It’s non-negotiable. It keeps your data safe from prying eyes and sneaky attacks.

2. Authentication and Authorization

Go for token-based auth with short-lived tokens. OAuth 2.0 is great for big apps. Use RBAC to keep users in check.

3. Request Validation

Validate ALL inputs. Use allowlists. Reject everything else. No exceptions.

4. Rate Limiting

Prevent DoS attacks and keep things fair. Here’s how:

Method	What it does
Fixed Window	Caps requests in a set time
Sliding Window	Smooths out traffic spikes
Token Bucket	Allows short traffic bursts

5. Monitoring and Logging

Set up real-time monitoring. Get alerts for weird stuff. It’s your early warning system.

6. Performance Tuning

Make your gateway sing:

Set trace levels to FATAL
Turn off real-time and traffic monitoring
Ditch transaction logging
Match database pooling to client numbers
Use HTTP keep-alive

Keeping Things Safe

Boost your API gateway security:

1. Web Application Firewall (WAF)

It’s your shield against common threats. Use it.

2. API-led Connectivity

Separate gateways for different uses. Keep internal stuff internal.

3. Manage Old APIs

Track all APIs. Dump the unused ones. Update the oldies.

4. Serverless Functions

Run code snippets in safe spaces. Less exposure, less risk.

5. Smart Scaling

Split traffic between gateways. Beef up memory for more requests per second.

6. Cache Responses

Use LocalResponseCache filter. It’ll speed up those GET requests.

What’s Next for API Gateways

API gateways are evolving to fit cloud and serverless setups. This shift is making developers rethink API management.

Here’s what’s changing:

1. Multiple Gateways

Companies now use several gateways from different providers. This means we need better ways to monitor and control API traffic across these gateways.

2. Easier to Use

As more non-tech folks work with APIs, gateways are getting simpler. Self-service features are becoming the norm.

3. AI and Machine Learning

These are now crucial for API security. They help spot and stop attacks in real-time, which is key as API breaches become more common.

4. Cloud-Native Design

New gateways work better with cloud setups. They’re fully declarative and fit well with GitOps practices.

5. Speed Boost

Some gateways, like those based on OpenResty, use Lua scripts for speed and flexibility. Kong, built on OpenResty, offers fast routing and security features.

6. Reactive Programming

Gateways like Spring Cloud Gateway use reactive models. This helps handle lots of connections at once, which is great for busy APIs.

Real-world impacts:

Trend	Example	Impact
High-Performance Gateways	Apache APISIX	Handles over 1 trillion API calls daily
AI-Driven Security	Not specified	Helps block high-volume cyberattacks
Cloud-Native Design	Not specified	Allows for quick config changes without full reloads

When choosing an API gateway:

Check how well it works with cloud systems
Look at its security features, especially AI-based ones
See if it’s easy for your team to use and change
Make sure it can grow with your needs

Staying on top of these trends will help you build better, safer, and more scalable API systems.

Wrap-Up

Picking the right API gateway framework is crucial. Open-source options give you the power and flexibility to manage APIs in today’s complex digital world.

Why does it matter? Let’s break it down:

Security: API attacks are skyrocketing. A good gateway is your shield. (API cyberattacks might jump 1,000% by 2030!)
Performance: Handle massive traffic. Apache APISIX? It processes over 1 trillion API calls daily.
Cost: Save your team time. Less manual work = more efficiency.

When choosing a gateway, think about:

Factor	Why It Matters
Scalability	Can it grow with you?
Security	How well does it protect?
Cloud-ready	Works in all environments?
User-friendly	Easy to tweak and manage?

Here’s a wild stat: The API management market could grow sixfold by 2030. APIs are taking over the digital world.

So, what’s next?

Figure out what YOU need. How complex are your APIs? How much traffic do you expect?
Look at the numbers. How does each gateway perform? How secure is it?
Will it play nice with your current setup?

Choose wisely. Your API gateway is the backbone of your digital strategy.

FAQs

Which of the following is an open source API gateway?

Tyk is an open-source API gateway. Here’s the scoop:

It’s 100% open-source. Not open-core, not freemium. The real deal.
You can mix and match with third-party stuff or build your own plugins.
Tweak it to fit your company like a glove.

Adam DuVander, a dev communicator, puts it this way:

“Tyk is a modular, open-source API gateway. It’s flexible and open-source, so you can integrate third-party middleware or deploy customized plugins, adapting your Tyk implementation for your company’s needs.”

Tyk’s got some cool features:

Feature	What it does
Speed	Handles millions of requests/second
Plays nice	Works with old stuff, GraphQL, and REST
Keeps things safe	Lots of auth options, rate limiting
Keeps an eye out	Built-in analytics and monitoring

You can run it yourself or let them handle it. They’ve got a free tier with 250 API calls and 2.5GB throughput monthly. Need more? Paid plans go up to 1B calls and 10TB throughput per month.