Zuplo vs Kong API Gateway
As an alternative to Kong, developers use Zuplo's API management platform for its complexity-free architecture, seamless integration with the tools and workflows they know best, and developer portals with automatic Stripe-quality documentation.
Why teams move away from Kong API Gateway
Complex DIY Setup
Requires manual Kubernetes configuration with 12 different installation options
High Cost
Starts at $650/month with separate fees for each cluster and environment
Steep Learning Curve
Uses cURL-based API calls and Lua plugins instead of modern development tools
Why choose Zuplo
As an alternative to Kong, developers use Zuplo's API management platform for its complexity-free architecture, seamless integration with the tools and workflows they know best, and developer portals with automatic Stripe-quality documentation.
Simpler Deployment
Fully-managed and auto-scaled in the cloud
Lower Total Cost
Free tier available with high availability built-in for all plans
Developer-Friendly
TypeScript-based programmability with git integration
About Kong API Gateway
Kong is an API management platform with multiple products for cloud native and microservices-based applications. Kong Gateway is an open source API gateway product distinguished for its high performance and extensibility via plugins, whereas Kong Mesh and Kong Connect extend the Gateway's behavior with advanced features for security and governance.
The Zuplo advantage
- Simpler Deployment
- Lower Total Cost
- Developer-Friendly
- Rate Limiting
- GitOps Support
Feature-by-feature comparison
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Common questions about Zuplo vs Kong API Gateway.
Is Zuplo easier to manage than Kong?
Yes. Kong (especially self-hosted) requires managing databases (Postgres/Cassandra) and complex infrastructure updates. Zuplo is fully serverless and managed. You never have to patch a server, upgrade a database, or scale a node.
Do I need to learn Lua to extend Zuplo like I do with Kong?
Kong's plugin architecture relies heavily on Lua, a language few developers know well. Zuplo is programmable via TypeScript. This opens up plugin development to the vast majority of developers without a learning curve.
How does global scaling compare?
Scaling Kong globally requires deploying and syncing clusters across regions manually. Zuplo deploys to the edge automatically. Your API is instantly available in 300+ cities worldwide without configuring a single region or load balancer.
Is Zuplo more cost-effective than Kong Enterprise?
Kong Enterprise licensing is expensive and often opaque. Kong Open Source requires significant DevOps time (which is hidden money). Zuplo offers transparent pricing that covers both the platform and the hosting, often resulting in much lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
- question: "Is Zuplo easier to manage than Kong?
Yes. Kong (especially self-hosted) requires managing databases (Postgres/Cassandra) and complex infrastructure updates. Zuplo is fully serverless and managed. You never have to patch a server, upgrade a database, or scale a node—we handle all of that for you.
Does Kong offer built-in monetization?
Kong offers monetization features but typically only in their expensive enterprise tiers or via complex plugins. Zuplo makes monetization accessible to everyone via a native Stripe integration that takes minutes to set up.
How does the "Time to First Request" compare?
Setting up Kong involves installing Docker containers, setting up databases, and configuring routes. You can sign up for Zuplo and handle your first API request in under 2 minutes. The time-to-value with Zuplo is significantly faster.
Is the Developer Portal better on Zuplo?
Kong's Dev Portal is an add-on that can be rigid. Zuplo's portal is core to the product, auto-updating with your OpenAPI specs, and includes self-service API key management for your users out of the box.
Can I use Zuplo if I don't want to manage Kubernetes?
Absolutely. Kong is often deployed on Kubernetes, adding K8s management overhead to your API team. Zuplo requires no Kubernetes knowledge; it is a SaaS platform that abstracts the infrastructure away entirely.
Ready to make the switch?
Join thousands of developers who trust Zuplo to secure, scale, and monetize their APIs.