Kong Enterprise alternatives
Killing Custom ($1000s/mo) (~$12000/yr) — here are 2 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.
the answer medium migration
Apache APISIX · Free ⭐ 17.0K stars High-performance gateway with plugins, admin API and dashboard.
you stop paying Custom ($1000s/mo) → keep ~$12000/yr
head-to-head
| Kong Enterprise | Apache APISIX | |
|---|---|---|
| price | Custom ($1000s/mo) | Free |
| self-hostable | no | yes |
| license | proprietary | Apache-2.0 |
| verified | — | 2026-08 |
| migration | — | medium effort |
free & open source (2)
Free
High-performance gateway with plugins, admin API and dashboard.
trade-offs: Ops burden is yours
github →faq
What is the best free alternative to Kong Enterprise?
Apache APISIX is the top free option — High-performance gateway with plugins, admin API and dashboard.
How much can I save by switching from Kong Enterprise?
Kong Enterprise costs Custom ($1000s/mo), so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $12000/year per seat.
Can Kong Enterprise be self-hosted?
Yes — Apache APISIX and Traefik can be self-hosted for free.