Top 16 API Management Tools You Should Know About

You probably have a dream app that you’ve always wanted to develop. Let’s consider for a moment that you’ve achieved it. So, imagine this: you’re deep in the middle of building your dream app, and your servers are perfectly in place. You’ve tested the code and it’s 100% bug-free. Thankfully, everything is perfect, just like you wanted it to be.

But then, just after the app’s launch, your APIs start misbehaving. Suddenly, your users are facing slow response times, and you’ve got security vulnerabilities creeping in. The system is starting to buckle under the pressure, too. You didn’t see it coming. But every other business did.

Why? Because they had the right API management tool in place. Unfortunately, you didn’t. Now you’re probably drowning in unexpected debt. Your technical expenses have gone way beyond your budget, and you’re struggling.

Fortunately, you don’t have to let this be your story. The truth is, the best developers are already using powerful API management tools to stay ahead of the game. These tools aren’t just a luxury; they’re actually essential tools. They make sure your APIs run smoothly and securely.

But here’s the catch: If you’re not using the right API management tools, you’re already falling behind. Every day you wait, your competitors improve their workflows and deliver faster, smoother experiences for their users.

We don’t want you to be using the wrong tools. So, here is our list of the top 16 API management tools. You need to know these before your next project turns into a crisis!

What are API Management Tools?

API management tools are platforms or services that help developers with application programming interfaces (APIs). These tools generally help them:

• Create
• Secure
• Monitor
• Scale

These APIs. They give you the power to manage how your APIs are accessed. You’ll be able to take care of how they perform and how they evolve over time.

So, in simpler terms: if your API is the engine, an API management tool is the dashboard. It tells you how it’s running and alerts you when something’s wrong. It lets you refine the settings for good and peak performance.

What do API management tools typically handle?

Here’s what you really need to know. API management tools help you manage your app’s programming interface. It manages the API design, API security, and more. Hence, with these tools, you’re handling all things API. Generally, this is what they handle:

• API Gateway
• Authentication & Authorization
• Rate Limiting & Throttling
• Analytics & Monitoring
• Version Control
• Developer Portal

Using a management tool isn’t just a good idea, it’s a vital necessity. Genuinely, over 90% of backend developers use APIs. Why wouldn’t they, though? Even if your app is a quirky offline game, it will need an API to work well.

What are the key elements in API Management?

Managing an API isn’t just about making sure it works. It’s always about the performance and how it evolves as your app grows. A strong API management strategy is meant to keep your digital ecosystem secure and developer-friendly.

Here are the key elements that solid API management tools should offer:

API Security

Gartner predicts that by 2025, 50% of all data breaches will literally come from insecure APIs. We need to avoid this. API management tools should enforce:

• Authentication (e.g., OAuth 2.0, JWT)
• API key management
• Threat protection & rate limiting
• Data encryption

Lifecycle Management

From planning to retirement, APIs evolve with you. This element includes:

• Versioning
• Testing

• Automates Deployment
• Retires outdated endpoints

Policy Enforcement

Policies control how your API behaves, such as:

• Rate limiting (e.g., 1000 requests per hour)
• Quotas
• Caching rules
• IP whitelisting

Integration Capabilities

API management isn’t just about APIs. It’s also about how they fit into your larger ecosystem:

• Should integrate with CI/CD pipelines
• Support for REST and GraphQL
• Connection with analytics tools, databases, etc.

What are the Top 16 API Management Tools You Should Know About?

Choosing the right API management tools can transform your app’s backend from chaotic to fast. Remember, the backend needs to be quick and fast. Everyone loves a good performing app.  Here are the leading tools in 2025, and what makes them powerful:

1. SwaggerHub

SwaggerHub makes things easier for teams. This is because it simplifies the design and documentation of APIs. It does so by using the OpenAPI standard.

It’s the go-to tool for clean specs and collaborative workflows. Generally, it is best for API-first teams focused on fast, collaborative design.

Features:

• Supports OpenAPI specifications for consistent, standards-based API design.
• Enables live collaboration between backend developers, product owners, and frontend teams.
• Automatically generates interactive, user-friendly API documentation for customers.
• Provides built-in mocking capabilities to test endpoints before deployment.

2. MuleSoft

MuleSoft is genuinely a good and powerful platform. It connects APIs and apps to enterprise-grade reliability and analytics. Your data stays safe with MuleSoft.

This is why it is the top choice for businesses of all sizes. It is mainly best for enterprises needing deep integrations and full API lifecycle control.

Features:

• Offers visual API design and auto-documentation to streamline API planning and launch.
• Includes policy enforcement to keep APIs secure.
• Delivers deep analytics into API usage and consumer behavior.
• Provides hundreds of prebuilt connectors for systems like Salesforce and AWS.

3. SnapLogic

SnapLogic brings AI to the game. It comes with an Artificial Intelligence-powered integration engine. This makes building pipelines between APIs and cloud platforms easy.

It can also be useful for databases, so management is easy. This makes it best for organizations that work with data because they have complex integration needs.

Features:

• Uses AI to automate basic things like pipeline creation. This reduces developer workload and human error.
• Allows smooth connection between APIs and legacy systems.
• Offers live monitoring and smart alerts to guarantee performance across integrations.
• Provides a low-code interface so teams can manage APIs without deep technical overhead.

4. IBM API Connect

IBM’s tool is all about end-to-end control over your app’s programming interface. This helps businesses build secure and high-performing APIs.

Although it isn’t an API management tool, it gives you control over an API design. So, it’s most suitable for secure and scalable API deployment within large enterprises.

Features:

• Includes good API authentication and encryption protocols. This prevents security breaches.
• Offers analytics with customizable dashboards for tracking.
• Provides a built-in developer portal to make APIs easily accessible for third parties.
• Supports multi-cloud and hybrid deployment. This is ideal for global businesses.

5. K6

K6 is actually not a full API manager. So, why did we add it to our list? Well, it’s a must-have tool for load testing. This ensures that your APIs hold up under traffic.

Most businesses genuinely need this. K6 is best for developers and testers who are focused on stress testing and performance optimization.

Features:

• Simulates thousands of API requests to test scalability under pressure.
• Integrates with Grafana dashboards for live performance insights and visualization.
• Enables automated performance testing within CI/CD pipelines for faster deployments.
• Allows scripting in JavaScript, so your devs don’t need to learn a new language to test.

6. Apigee

Apigee is part of the Google Cloud. It offers a full suite of services, from monitoring to management. The best part? It is all on Google Cloud infrastructure.

Thanks to its connection to Google, it is one of the best API management tools. This is best for enterprises that need powerful cloud-native API management.

Features:

• Supports API proxies for secure exposure of backend services with minimal code changes.
• Includes API monetization features to help you create and manage usage-based plans.
• Offers enterprise-grade security features like threat protection and SAML support.
• Includes a customizable developer portal to quickly onboard partners, clients, or internal teams.

7. Express Gateway

Express Gateway gives developers complete flexibility. It does this by integrating directly with the Express.js framework. So, it’s great for developers working with JavaScript.

This is one of the API management tools that can integrate directly with the mobile app development. It is best for Node.js developers who are looking for full control.

Features:

• Acts as a programmable gateway. It lets you create custom API policies with JavaScript.
• Supports dynamic routing and API key validation out of the box.
• Offers a plugin system to extend functionality as your app grows.
• Perfectly suited for microservices architectures. This is due to its lightweight and modular nature.

8. WSO2

WSO2 is one of the best API management tools. It supports multiple protocols. It even offers enterprise-grade features without the high price tag.

Everyone loves the software that helps without being extra pricey. This is what makes WSO2 best for teams looking for a full-featured open-source alternative.

Features:

• Supports REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and streaming APIs from one central platform.
• Offers extensive policy control with throttling, caching, and fine-grained access rules.
• Includes advanced monitoring and alerting to catch issues before they escalate.
• Integrates easily with CI/CD pipelines and supports Docker and Kubernetes deployments.

9. Nevatech Sentinet

Nevatech is built specifically for Microsoft environments. It offers an optimistic blend of simplicity and powerful security.

So, if you’re dealing with an MS app, Nevatech is awesome. It is specifically useful for Microsoft shops using .NET and Windows-based services.

Features:

• Allows visual modeling and editing of service architecture through a user-friendly dashboard.
• Provides identity federation and strong security mechanisms for sensitive enterprise APIs.
• Includes full versioning and documentation support for internal and external APIs.
• Integrates easily with Azure and other Microsoft technologies.

10. Oracle API Platform Cloud Service

Oracle’s solution delivers strong governance and lifecycle management for APIs. It even offers developer engagement tools.

Oracle is already a reputable name in the software industry. This makes it one of the best API management tools for enterprises already invested in Oracle Cloud.

Features:

• Allows you to design and monitor APIs across both on-premises and cloud.
• Offers policy enforcement and analytics to ensure API performance and security.
• It has a strong developer portal that simplifies onboarding and testing for third-party developers.
• Easily integrates with other Oracle services.

11. Gravitee

Gravitee.io delivers a modular architecture that lets you manage REST and WebSocket APIs. It even manages SOAP ones with minimal overhead and maximum flexibility.

These features make Gravitee stand out as one of the most preferred API development tools. It is best for developers who want a lightweight API platform.

Features:

• Gravitee’s core enables policy enforcement and analytics without bloating your infrastructure.
• You can apply fine-grained security policie across all your APIs from a single dashboard.
• Its intuitive analytics console gives you detailed charts and logs to easily spot spikes.
• Thanks to its plugin-based design, you can extend functionality. Also, you can integrate with external systems without touching the core code.

12. Azure API Management

Azure API Management provides a fully managed gateway and analytics suite. It integrates natively with the rest of the Azure ecosystem.

Many people use Azure’s services. So, this is best for teams building hybrid or multi-cloud solutions on Microsoft Azure.

Features:

• With just a few clicks in the Azure portal, you can spin up a scalable API gateway. It will automatically handle load balancing and failover.
• You can secure your APIs with enterprise-grade identity management.
• You get live application insights fed directly into Azure Monitor. This gives you unified visibility across your cloud services.
• The customizable developer portal lets internal teams and external partners discover the APIs without extra setup.

13. Jitterbit

Jitterbit blends API management tools capabilities with integration capabilities. This lets you design and manage APIs and data flows.

It does all this by using a Visual Studio-like interface. This makes it best for fast, low-code API integrations between cloud and on-prem systems.

Features:

• Its drag-and-drop studio reduces development time by letting you map data and expose endpoints without writing boilerplate code.
• Built-in connectors to SaaS apps let you expose complex workflows as simple, secure APIs.
• You get end-to-end transaction visibility and error-handling dashboards.
• Automatic schema discovery and versioning features let you update APIs.

14.  Axway

Axway Amplify offers a hybrid gateway and analytics that help you govern APIs wherever they live. It doesn’t even matter if it is on-premises or in public clouds.

This also works in private clouds. This is best for organizations needing a unified control plane for internal and external APIs.

Features:

• A global control plane lets you publish and manage APIs across multiple data centers.
• Security enforces compliance standards automatically, so you can confidently audit and report.
• Automated lifecycle workflows integrate with CI/CD tools.
• Its built-in API catalog and marketplace accelerate developer onboarding.

15.  Red Hat 3scale

3scale by Red Hat provides traffic management and developer engagement tools. They can be deployed on-premises or as a hybrid solution.

This also works for APIs in the cloud. They are best for scaling API programs with flexible deployment and strong access control.

Features:

• Allows you to protect backend services from spikes while offering differentiated service tiers.
• Supports multiple authentication schemes to accommodate a wide range of clients.
• The analytics dashboard helps you track API performance and revenue from API usage.
• Built-in support for partner management and monetization.

16.  Akana API Management

Akana provides a mature API management platform. This consists of policy management and threat protection.

Akana easily integrates with enterprise identity systems. This way it is best for regulated industries that require advanced governance and identity federation.

Features:

• Advanced security features keep sensitive data safe and compliant.
• Its visual policy editor makes creating and applying rules for throttling and routing without writing code easy.
• Developer portal and on-demand sandbox environments accelerate partner onboarding and documentation.
• Monitoring and reporting tools give you end-to-end visibility into security incidents.

Build and Manage an API with Linkitsoft!

What’s the point of that perfect app UI when user data isn’t safe? What are you getting by delivering an awesome idea through an app that performs very slowly and lags?

All because under the hood, your API is a tangled mess of endpoints and slow calls. There is zero monitoring, and users start bouncing. Your devs panic as opportunities start vanishing. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it?

Now, imagine the opposite of this! The one you can achieve with Linkitsoft.

Because in a world where 83% of all internet traffic flows through strong API calls, having a strong API of your own isn’t optional. At this point, it’s non-negotiable.

So, with Linkitsoft on your side, you don’t have anything to worry about! With us, your API will be secure and scalable according to your needs. You’ll sleep better knowing everything you invested in your app is returning double!

Your users will stay happy, allowing your team to move faster. And that’s not even just some wishful thinking. Oh, it’s what happens when you build and manage APIs the smart way. The Linkitsoft way.

But why choose us?

96% of organizations were using APIs in 2021 as part of their strategy. You’re in trouble if it’s not a powerful part of yours yet. Businesses everywhere are leveling up with high-performance APIs. Don’t be the brand that gets left behind with an app that looks perfect, but doesn’t deliver.

Connect with Linkitsoft instead. Our developers will ensure that everything works perfectly fine behind the scenes. Here’s how:

• 92% of companies experienced at least one API-related security incident in 2022. We aim to make sure you’re not one of them.
• API calls are increasing by over 60% year-over-year. That’s amazing because due to this, we build APIs that are ready to grow with you.
• It doesn’t matter if you’re serving 10 users or 10 million. We tend to make sure your API performs like a pro and handles it all.
• Companies with real-time API analytics are generally 40% faster at resolving downtime. So, we’ll help you stay one step ahead with detailed analytics and performance tracking!

Genuinely, Linkitsoft is here to help you succeed. We look beyond transactions. We treat our clients like our partners. From mobile app development to API management, we ensure our services are affordable and collaborative.

Ready to build something powerful and high-quality? Let Linkitsoft manage your API. Connect with us today.