Kong vs Zuplo: Best API Gateway for Modern Developers
Reviewed by Marcus Webb
Updated May 31, 2026
Quick Comparison
| Zuplo | Kong Gateway | |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | SaaS startups needing fast setup and programmable edge logic. | Enterprises requiring self-hosted infra and legacy protocol support. |
| Pricing | Free tier available / $25/mo starting | Free OSS / Custom Enterprise |
| Winner | Our Pick |
Tool Breakdown
Overall Winner
Zuplo
Zuplo offers fastest edge deployment, TypeScript extensibility, and integrated developer portal for modern SaaS teams.
What it does well
- Native TypeScript support
- Built-in developer portal
- Global edge deployment
Watch out for
- SaaS only
- Smaller plugin ecosystem than Kong
Best For
SaaS startups needing fast setup and programmable edge logic.
Pricing
Free tier available / $25/mo starting
Kong Gateway
Enterprise-grade OSS gateway focused on high-performance C engine and Lua plugins.
What it does well
- Deep OSS heritage
- Massive plugin library
- Runs anywhere (K8s, VM, Bare Metal)
Watch out for
- High config complexity
- Lua hard to test/maintain
Best For
Enterprises requiring self-hosted infra and legacy protocol support.
Pricing
Free OSS / Custom Enterprise
Frequently Asked Questions
Which handles custom logic better? +
Zuplo. It uses TypeScript. Kong uses Lua. TypeScript has better libraries, tooling, and developer hiring pool.
Can I self-host both? +
No. Kong is self-hostable via OSS. Zuplo is fully managed SaaS only. Use Kong for strict VPC requirements.
Which is faster for global users? +
Zuplo. It runs on edge nodes globally by default. Kong performance depends on where you deploy your clusters.