Kong Gateway
Kong Gateway is an open-source API gateway for managing API traffic in microservices and distributed architectures across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. It supports REST, HTTP, Kafka, WebSockets, gRPC, GraphQL, UDP, TCP, and TLS. Teams can configure it through an API, a web UI, or declarative configuration, including updates handled through CI/CD pipelines. Built-in plugins address security, authentication, transformation, and analytics; custom plugins can be developed with Kong's Plugin Development Kit. Kong says the gateway can run on premises, in cloud, Kubernetes, or serverless environments, with or without a database. Kong Ingress Controller uses Kubernetes-native resources for traffic management, transformations, and observability across clusters. Kong describes its NGINX engine as lightweight and says it handles 50K+ transactions per second per node. Linux packages, binaries, Docker images, and Kubernetes deployment instructions are available. Windows installation requires Docker because Kong does not offer a native Windows installation method. Kong Gateway Open Source is free, and the Konnect trial lasts 30 days with no credit card required. Konnect Plus is priced per gateway per month; other paid pricing is available on request.
Who it is for
It suits teams building or operating APIs for microservices, distributed systems, or hybrid and multi-cloud deployments. Kubernetes users can configure gateway behavior through Kong Ingress Controller and Kubernetes-native resources.
What is good
- Offers API, web UI, and declarative configuration.
- Built-in plugins cover security, authentication, transformation, and analytics.
- Runs on premises, cloud, Kubernetes, and serverless.
- Kubernetes Ingress Controller supports cross-cluster traffic management.
- Open-source gateway is free.
What to know first
- Windows installation requires Docker.
- No native Windows installation method is provided.
- Konnect Plus pricing is per gateway per month.
Verdict
Kong Gateway offers multiple configuration and deployment approaches, with plugins for common gateway needs and Kubernetes-native management. Teams considering it should account for the Docker requirement on Windows and request pricing details for paid Konnect options.
Kong Gateway plans and pricing
All plansCompared on API monetization software
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- $25/mo
- API catalog
- Yes
