Akto
Akto is an open-source API security platform that helps you discover all your APIs, detect sensitive data exposure, and find vulnerabilities in your CI/CD pipeline before hackers do.
Kong Konnect
Kong Konnect is a unified API management platform that provides a centralized control plane to design, build, and monitor your APIs across multi-cloud and hybrid environments.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Akto | Kong Konnect |
|---|---|---|
| Website | akto.io | konghq.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2021 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, India | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
Akto
Akto is a specialized API security platform designed to help you secure your entire API ecosystem. You can automatically discover every API endpoint in your network, including hidden or 'shadow' APIs that often go undocumented. The platform continuously monitors your traffic to identify where sensitive data like PII or financial info is being exposed, giving you a clear map of your security posture.
You can integrate security testing directly into your development workflow by running over 100 built-in security tests against your APIs. This allows you to catch broken object-level authorization (BOLA) and other common vulnerabilities before they reach production. Whether you are a security engineer or a developer, you can use Akto to automate the tedious parts of API auditing and maintain a robust defense against modern web threats.
Kong Konnect
Kong Konnect gives you a unified platform to manage your entire API lifecycle from a single cloud control plane. You can design, test, and secure your services while deploying them anywhere—whether you run on-premises, in the cloud, or across hybrid environments. It simplifies the complexity of modern microservices by providing a consistent way to apply policies and monitor performance across your entire infrastructure.
You can accelerate your development cycles by using the built-in service catalog and developer portal to promote discovery and reuse. The platform handles the heavy lifting of security and traffic management, allowing your teams to focus on building core business logic. It is designed for organizations of all sizes that need to scale their API operations without losing control or visibility.
Overview
Akto Features
- Automated API Discovery Inventory all your APIs automatically by analyzing network traffic to find shadow APIs and undocumented endpoints instantly.
- Sensitive Data Tracking Identify exactly where sensitive data like passwords or credit card numbers are leaking across your API requests and responses.
- BOLA Detection Run automated tests to find Broken Object Level Authorization flaws, the most critical risk in modern API security today.
- CI/CD Integration Trigger automated security scans within your GitHub or GitLab pipelines to stop vulnerable code from ever being deployed.
- API Traffic Mirroring Analyze real-world traffic patterns without impacting your application performance using seamless mirroring from AWS, Azure, or GCP.
- Custom Test Editor Create your own security tests using a simple YAML-based editor to address unique business logic vulnerabilities in your apps.
Kong Konnect Features
- Unified Control Plane. Manage all your API gateways and services from one central dashboard regardless of where they are deployed.
- Service Hub. Create a single source of truth for your services so your team can easily discover and reuse existing APIs.
- Developer Portal. Build a custom branded portal where your developers can access documentation and self-register for API keys.
- API Analytics. Monitor your traffic patterns and performance metrics in real-time to identify bottlenecks before they impact your users.
- Insomnia Integration. Design and test your APIs directly within the platform to ensure high-quality code before you hit production.
- Policy Management. Apply security and traffic rules like rate limiting and authentication across your entire fleet with a few clicks.
Pricing Comparison
Akto Pricing
- Up to 50 endpoints
- Automated API discovery
- Basic security tests
- Community support
- Local deployment option
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited endpoints
- Advanced sensitive data detection
- CI/CD pipeline integration
- Slack and Jira alerts
- Priority email support
Kong Konnect Pricing
- 1 Control Plane
- Up to 5 Services
- Basic API Analytics
- Shared Dev Portal
- Standard Support
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Up to 10 Control Planes
- Unlimited Services
- Advanced Analytics
- Custom Domain Portal
- Priority Support
Pros & Cons
Akto
Pros
- Fast setup with immediate visibility into shadow APIs
- Comprehensive library of pre-built security test cases
- Open-source core allows for deep customization
- Strong focus on the OWASP API Top 10
- Easy integration with existing DevOps workflows
Cons
- Initial traffic mirroring setup can be technical
- Pro tier pricing is a significant jump
- Learning curve for writing custom YAML tests
Kong Konnect
Pros
- Extremely fast performance with low latency overhead
- Flexible deployment across any cloud or environment
- Large library of pre-built plugins for security
- Intuitive interface for managing complex service meshes
- Strong community support and extensive technical documentation
Cons
- Significant learning curve for advanced configurations
- Plus and Enterprise tiers are relatively expensive
- Initial setup requires solid networking knowledge