Which API gateway should I use for rate limiting and quotas?

If your main goals are rate limiting and quotas, the best API gateway depends on your environment and how much control you want. Here’s the short version:

Good default choices

1. Kong Gateway

Best if you want a strong open-source option with mature traffic control features.

• Built-in rate limiting, quotas, auth, logging, and plugins
• Works well in Kubernetes and hybrid environments
• Good if you want flexibility and extensibility

Use Kong if: you want a proven gateway with rich policy support and don’t mind some operational complexity.

---

2. AWS API Gateway

Best if you’re already on AWS and want managed simplicity.

• Native throttling and usage plans
• Easy to set up API keys, per-client quotas, and burst/rate controls
• Fully managed, less ops overhead

Use AWS API Gateway if: your APIs are on AWS and you want the simplest managed solution.

---

3. Apigee (Google Cloud / enterprise)

Best if you need enterprise-grade API management.

• Strong quota, rate limit, analytics, developer portal, policy engine
• Great for large organizations with governance needs

Use Apigee if: you need advanced API management, governance, and analytics at enterprise scale.

---

4. NGINX / NGINX Plus

Best if you want a lightweight edge gateway and already use NGINX.

• Supports rate limiting
• Quotas are possible but usually less full-featured than dedicated API management platforms
• Very performant

Use NGINX if: you mainly need high-performance traffic control and already operate NGINX well.

---

5. Tyk

A strong API gateway with good rate limiting/quotas and easier setup than some enterprise platforms.

• Built-in rate limits, quotas, auth, analytics
• Often considered easier to adopt than heavier enterprise gateways

Use Tyk if: you want a full-featured gateway with solid policy controls and a simpler operator experience.

---

Quick recommendation by scenario

• AWS-native: AWS API Gateway
• Open-source/self-managed: Kong or Tyk
• Enterprise governance: Apigee
• High-performance edge proxy: NGINX / NGINX Plus

What matters most for rate limiting and quotas

When choosing, check whether the gateway supports:

• Per-client quotas (daily/monthly limits)
• Burst + steady rate limits
• Distributed enforcement across multiple gateway instances
• Identity-based limits (API key, JWT claims, user, tenant, IP)
• Analytics and reporting
• Custom policies and exceptions

My practical recommendation

If you want a balanced answer:

• Kong if you want the best open-source/general-purpose option
• AWS API Gateway if you’re on AWS and want managed quotas
• Apigee if you’re an enterprise with governance needs

If you want, I can also give you a comparison table of Kong vs Tyk vs Apigee vs AWS API Gateway specifically for rate limiting and quotas.