Apiman vs Gravitee.io: What are the differences?

Apiman and Gravitee.io are both open-source API management platforms that provide similar functionalities. However, there are key differences between the two that make them suitable for different use cases.

1. Subscription management: Apiman offers more flexibility in terms of subscription management. It allows the user to define custom subscription policies, which can be based on various criteria such as rate limits, pricing, or authentication mechanisms. On the other hand, Gravitee.io provides a simpler subscription model, where the user can choose from pre-defined plans with fixed capabilities.

2. Deployment options: Gravitee.io provides more deployment options compared to Apiman. It can be deployed as a standalone server or as a Docker image, making it easier to integrate into existing infrastructure. Apiman, on the other hand, requires the user to deploy it on a Java EE application server, which can add complexity to the deployment process.

3. Developer portal customization: Gravitee.io allows more extensive customization of the developer portal compared to Apiman. It provides a powerful theming engine that allows users to completely customize the look and feel of the portal, including logo, colors, fonts, and layout. Apiman, on the other hand, has limited customization options for the developer portal.

4. Integration capabilities: Apiman provides better integration capabilities compared to Gravitee.io. It offers out-of-the-box integration with popular API management standards such as OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect. It also provides integration with third-party systems such as Keycloak for authentication and authorization. Gravitee.io, however, relies more on custom extensions for integrating with external systems.

5. Rate limiting mechanism: Gravitee.io offers a more advanced rate limiting mechanism compared to Apiman. It provides rate limiting based on various factors such as IP address, user, or application. It also allows the user to define custom rate limiting policies based on different criteria. Apiman, on the other hand, provides a simpler rate limiting mechanism based on a fixed number of requests per time period.

6. Documentation management: Apiman offers better documentation management capabilities compared to Gravitee.io. It provides a built-in documentation portal where users can create and manage API documentation. It also allows the user to import existing Swagger definitions for generating documentation. Gravitee.io, on the other hand, relies more on external tools for managing API documentation.

In summary, Apiman and Gravitee.io differ in terms of subscription management, deployment options, developer portal customization, integration capabilities, rate limiting mechanism, and documentation management.