Kong vs Tyk: API Gateways Comparison (2026)
Kong offers more explicit feature details and a wider range of listed integrations, while Tyk emphasizes unlimited gateways and flexible pricing. Both provide free tiers.
AI Citation Scorecard
How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask api gateways questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.
Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.
Pricing
Key Features
- ✓API, protocol, and service support
- ✓Unlimited agents for agent-to-agent traffic
- ✓AI Observability with token-level tracking
- ✓Advanced analytics for up to 1M API requests
- ✓Developer portal support for 2 portals
- ✓Enterprise-grade security controls
- ✓Email support during trial
- ✓Unlimited access to plugins
- ✓Usage-based pricing
- ✓Unlimited API gateways
- ✓Developer portal included
- ✓Enhanced success plan
When to choose Kong
Choose Kong if your priority is a platform with explicitly defined features like AI Observability, advanced analytics up to 1M requests, support for two developer portals, and a broad list of integrations including major cloud providers and developer tools. Its enterprise-grade security and unlimited access to plugins are also key considerations.
When to choose Tyk
Choose Tyk if your priority is a platform with usage-based pricing, unlimited API gateways, and an included developer portal, especially if you are evaluating solutions based on flexible pricing models and scalability without initial feature limitations beyond custom enterprise pricing. Its free tier allows for easy initial evaluation.