Application programming interfaces (APIs) have become a crucial part of enabling digital transformation. APIs allow companies to open up data and functionality in their existing systems for use in new digital products and services. With APIs, organizations can build innovative customer experiences, create new revenue streams, and enable seamless integration between different applications.
To maximize the business value of APIs, most companies use an API management platform. These platforms provide all the tools and infrastructure needed to publish, secure, monitor, and monetize APIs. Two of the most popular API management solutions are Apigee and IBM API Connect.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll look at the key capabilities of Apigee and IBM API Connect and how they compare. We’ll cover:
- Overview of Apigee and IBM API Connect
- Key features comparison
- Pros and cons of each platform
- Frequently asked questions
Whether you’re evaluating options or looking to switch between platforms, this guide will help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of Apigee and IBM API Connect.
Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Apigee | IBM API Connect |
| API creation | Swagger/OpenAPI specs, proxy SDKs, API code generation | OpenAPI specs, Loopback SDK, Code generator |
| Security | OAuth, JWT, API keys, SSL | OAuth, JWT, API keys, SSL |
| Developer portal | Customizable portals, docs, SDK generation | Custom portal, interactive docs |
| Analytics | Detailed analytics dashboard | Analytics via Grafana dashboard |
| Monitoring | Trace tool, alerts | Built-in monitoring, alerts |
| Deployment options | Hybrid, public/private cloud | Public cloud, private cloud, on-prem |
| Pricing | Usage-based | Tiered subscription |
Overview Of Apigee And IBM API Connect
Apigee and IBM API Connect are full-featured API management platforms used by leading enterprises worldwide. Here’s a quick introduction to each one:
Apigee
Apigee is one of the most well-established players in the API management space. It was founded in 2004 and acquired by Google in 2016, operating today as part of Google Cloud.
Key capabilities include:
- API proxy creation and deployment
- Developer portal with documentation and SDKs
- API security including authentication, authorization, SSL
- Traffic management and rate limiting
- Detailed analytics and monitoring
- Hybrid deployment model with multi-region support
Apigee offers a usage-based pricing model based on the number of API calls processed per month.
IBM API Connect
IBM API Connect is IBM’s API management offering, built on technology acquired from Bluemix and StrongLoop. It provides capabilities like:
- API creation from OpenAPI specifications
- Self-service developer portal
- OAuth, JWT and other standards-based security
- Traffic control, throttling and quotas
- API analytics and logs
- Extension capabilities with OpenWhisk serverless
IBM API Connect is priced via tiered licensing based on number of APIs. Deployment options are public cloud, private cloud or on-premises.
Now that we’ve provided an overview, let’s do a detailed feature comparison.
Key Features Comparison
API Creation And Development
Apigee provides a Node.js-based SDK for creating API proxies along with support for OpenAPI specifications. Proxies allow you to easily implement routing, transformations, security and other logic for APIs.
IBM API Connect uses OpenAPI for API definitions and LoopBack as its SDK for creating Node.js APIs. It also offers a code generator to quickly stub out servers and clients.
Overall, Apigee’s proxy-based approach provides more flexibility for API logic, while IBM API Connect makes it simpler to mock up basic API code.
Security
Both platforms support the major standards used in API security today – OAuth 2.0, JWTs, API keys, SSL.
Apigee provides some additional security features like spikes arrest, bot detection and two-factor authorization. IBM API Connect integrates with IBM’s identity and access management offerings for added enterprise-grade security.
In general, Apigee has a slight edge in its security capabilities.
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Developer Portal
The developer portal plays a key role in enabling API consumers. Both platforms provide self-service developer portals with API documentation, SDKs, and interactive consoles.
Apigee developer portals are highly customizable, allowing branding, extensions and integration with developer tools. IBM API Connect focuses more on out-of-the-box ease of use.
Overall, Apigee’s developer portal has deeper capabilities for enterprises that need white-labeling and customization.
Analytics And Monitoring
Apigee offers a full dashboard for API analytics including usage trends, performance metrics, cache hits, response times and more. The Trace tool allows debugging traffic flows through proxies. Alerts can be created for monitoring.
IBM API Connect provides analytics through integration with Grafana. It has built-in monitoring of gateway nodes and the ability to set alerts. Logging goes through LogDNA.
Apigee has a clearer advantage in analytics while IBM API Connect relies more on integrating with external tools for observability.
Deployment Options
Apigee supports hybrid API management that can span cloud and on-premises. APIs and runtimes can be deployed in your own data center or VPCs while management happens in the Apigee cloud.
IBM API Connect is available as SaaS on IBM Cloud or can be installed on any cloud infrastructure or on-prem. Self-managed installation provides more control.
Both platforms are quite flexible in deployment models. Apigee simplifies hybrid while IBM API Connect gives you cloud-agnostic implementation.
Pros And Cons Of Apigee And IBM API Connect
Based on our detailed comparison, here are the key positives and negatives of each platform:
Apigee
Pros:
- Proxies allow implementation of complex API logic
- Fine-grained security features like spikes, bots detection
- Highly customizable developer portal capabilities
- Detailed analytics dashboard and tools
- Hybrid deployment model
Cons:
- Can be more complex to learn and use proxies
- Usage-based pricing may get expensive for high volumes
- Less flexibility in deployment models
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IBM API Connect
Pros:
- Simple API implementation with LoopBack
- Integrates with IBM security and analytics
- Cloud-agnostic deployment models
- Available as self-managed and SaaS
Cons:
- Less customization of developer portals
- Analytics via third-party integration
- Less granular security capabilities
FAQs
Yes, the core component of IBM API Connect is an API gateway that handles routing, security, rate limiting and other typical gateway functionality. It sits between your API implementations and consumers.
IBM API Connect is used for managing APIs. App Connect is used for application and data integration across different endpoints and systems. API Connect focuses just on APIs while App Connect does more general integration.
IBM API Connect is IBM’s API management platform. It provides capabilities like API gateways, developer portals, tools for creating APIs and integrating them with backend systems, analytics, security and more.
Apigee is the name of a specific API management platform from Google Cloud. But cloud API refers more broadly to any kind of API hosted on cloud infrastructure. So Apigee is one example of a cloud API management solution.
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Conclusion
Apigee and IBM API Connect offer compelling options for managing APIs for digital business. While their approaches differ, both provide the core capabilities needed – API gateways, developer portals, security, analytics and more.
Apigee excels in areas like API proxy development, security and analytics. IBM API Connect makes it easy to get started while integrating with enterprise infrastructure.
The right choice comes down to your specific needs. Focus on hybrid and maximum configurability? Apigee is a great fit. Prioritizing simplicity and self-managed deployment? IBM API Connect may be preferable.
Evaluating both options side-by-side considering your requirements will enable you to make the best decision for your API management needs.