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Apache APISIX vs Krakend

Learn how Apache APISIX and Krakend differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these api infrastructure tools is best for you.

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Favicon of Apache APISIX

Apache APISIX

Apache APISIX is an open-source API gateway built on NGINX and etcd, offering dynamic routing, 100+ plugins, load balancing, authentication, and traffic management for APIs and LLM workloads.
17,037stars+57(+0.3%)

Last 30 days

Screenshot of Apache APISIX
Favicon of Krakend

Krakend

High-performance, stateless API gateway built for microservices. Handle 80K+ requests/second with transparent pricing and enterprise-grade reliability.
2,668stars+7(+0.3%)

Last 30 days

Screenshot of Krakend

Detailed Comparison

Both Apache APISIX and Krakend have their unique strengths and serve similar purposes effectively. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Apache APISIX wins
Community & Popularity

Apache APISIX significantly outpaces Krakend in community adoption with 17,037 stars compared to 2,668 stars on GitHub. This 6.4x difference suggests Apache APISIX has a much larger and more active community. In terms of developer contributions, Apache APISIX has 2,924 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Comparable
Growth Momentum

Apache APISIX and Krakend are moving at much the same rate, adding 57 stars and adding 7 stars respectively over the last 30 days (+0.3% vs +0.3%). Neither is pulling away from the other on momentum alone.

Comparable
Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with Apache APISIX last updated 19 hours ago and Krakend 14 hours ago.

Krakend wins
Project Maturity

Krakend has been in development longer, starting 9 years ago, compared to Apache APISIX which began 7 years ago. This 1.4-year head start suggests Krakend may have more mature features and established processes.

Comparable
Licensing

Both projects use the Apache-2.0 license, providing identical terms for usage and distribution.

Comparable
Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in API Infrastructure. However, they also have distinct specializations: Krakend extends into API Integration.

Apache APISIX wins
Hosting & Deployment

Apache APISIX provides self-hosting options for complete data control and customization, while Krakend may be primarily cloud-based or require different deployment approaches.