AWS API Gateway vs Azure API Management vs GCP API Gateway
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AWS API Gateway vs Azure API Management vs GCP API Gateway | Image credit: Pexel> |
API Management has become an essential layer in modern application architecture. Enterprises and developers increasingly rely on robust API management platforms to expose, monitor, and secure their APIs. AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud offer dedicated services: AWS API Gateway, Azure API Management (APIM), and Google Cloud API Gateway. In this post, we’ll explore key features, commonalities, and differences across these services to help you choose the right platform.
Key features of AWS API Gateway
- Supports REST, HTTP, and WebSocket APIs
- Built-in throttling, caching, and authorization (IAM, Cognito, Lambda authorizers)
- Custom domain support and request/response transformation
- Integration with AWS Lambda, Step Functions, and backend services
- Usage plans with API keys and rate limiting
- Built-in monitoring via CloudWatch
- Supports private APIs inside VPC
- AWS API Gateway Documentation
Key features of Azure API Management
- Full lifecycle API management: design, publish, secure, analyze
- Supports SOAP-to-REST conversion, API versioning, and revisions
- Policy engine for transformations, throttling, CORS, authentication
- Integrated developer portal with customizable branding
- Advanced analytics and alerting via Azure Monitor
- Authentication with Azure AD, OAuth 2.0, and certificates
- Hybrid and multi-cloud deployment via self-hosted gateway
- Azure API Management Documentation
Key features of Google Cloud API Gateway
- Supports REST APIs backed by Cloud Functions, App Engine, or backend services
- Configurable via OpenAPI and gRPC
- Authentication via Google ID tokens, Firebase, and API keys
- Fully serverless, scales automatically
- Quota enforcement and monitoring via Cloud Monitoring and Logging
- Built-in support for Cloud Endpoints and Apigee integration
- Google Cloud API Gateway Documentation
What is similar in AWS API Gateway vs Azure APIM vs GCP API Gateway
- All provide endpoint routing, rate limiting, and usage quotas
- All support authentication mechanisms like OAuth2, API keys, and JWT
- Offer monitoring and logging with their respective cloud-native tools
- Support for multi-version APIs, documentation, and developer-facing portals
- Enable security features like CORS, SSL termination, and private networking
- Support for request/response transformations and backend integrations
What is different in AWS API Gateway vs Azure APIM vs GCP API Gateway
- Service Focus: Azure APIM offers an end-to-end API lifecycle platform including a developer portal and hybrid deployment. AWS and GCP are more serverless and DevOps-friendly.
- Protocol Support: AWS supports WebSockets natively; Azure supports SOAP to REST bridging; GCP leans heavily on gRPC and OpenAPI.
- Portal & Developer Experience: Azure includes a customizable dev portal; AWS provides SDK generation and test consoles; GCP integrates with Firebase and Google Workspace for auth.
- Deployment Models: Azure’s hybrid/self-hosted gateway is enterprise-grade; AWS offers regional and edge-optimized endpoints; GCP is fully serverless with Apigee available for enterprise needs.
- Advanced Features: Azure’s policy engine is unmatched in flexibility; AWS supports Lambda authorizers and VPC links; GCP focuses on ease of use and integration with Google identity services.
Conclusion
API Management is not one-size-fits-all. Choose AWS API Gateway for tight integration with AWS services and serverless architecture. Opt for Azure API Management for full lifecycle API governance, hybrid scenarios, and enterprise federation. Pick Google Cloud API Gateway for fast deployment with Firebase, Functions, and simple scaling. Evaluate based on traffic load, governance, hybrid deployment needs, and developer experience.