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MuleSoft vs. Azure API Management Comparison

Which is the best API Management provider for you?

January 30, 2024

Written by
Louis-Victor Jadavji, Cofounder of Taloflow
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Who should you choose and why?

âś‹ Most important consideration

  • Azure and MuleSoft have a relatively simple and intuitive developer and administration portal, however, Azure API Manager is mostly limited to working with Azure environments and the related ecosystem.

🤔 Strongly consider MuleSoft over Azure if

  • You want stronger API discovery and automatic API generation.
  • You need better features for defining, implementing, and validating consistent design standards for APIs across your organization.
  • You want to enforce policies using custom workflows. 
  • You’re managing API metadata.

🤔 Strongly consider Azure over MuleSoft if

  • You’re looking to customize the developer portal to suit different API teams.
  • You want to manage the API terms of service.
  • You want to monetize your APIs effectively with tools like invoice generation, tiered billing, billing categories, etc.

📝 Other Notes

  • Compared to Azure API Manager, MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager provides better support for OpenID, basic authentication, and WS-Security.
  • Azure has better API caching capability compared to MuleSoft.
  • MuleSoft Anypoint API Manager is more expensive than Azure API Manager.
  • MuleSoft has better documentation compared to Azure API Manager.
  • Azure API Management is should also be considered in the context of Azure Integration Services.

Mulesoft Anypoint API Manager

Mulesoft's Anypoint API Manager is a unique offering in the expansive Anypoint Exchange platform. Providing users with the versatility to deploy their APIs across various settings, it allows businesses to adapt to changing needs. The Flex Gateway and DataGraph are additional features that enhance the platform's capabilities. Combining these features with a strong focus on API governance and community management, Anypoint API Manager offers a well-rounded and flexible solution for managing APIs in today's digital landscape.

Azure API Management

Azure API Management, part of the larger Azure Integration Services offered by Azure Cloud, supports the deployment of its components in a hybrid manner using Kubernetes or Azure Arc. This flexibility ensures that organizations can tailor their deployment strategy to their specific needs. Azure API Management is also recognized for its simple and intuitive administrator interface, promoting a user-friendly experience that simplifies the management of APIs for system administrators.

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About the Author

Louis-Victor Jadavji (or "LV") is a recognized leader in the cloud services industry. He's helped 50+ digital native companies like ModusBox, Later, and NS1 choose the right cloud stack for their applications. His work has been featured in Forbes (30 Under 30 All-Star), HuffPost, The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, and Inc. Magazine.

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