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.
Tyk
Tyk is an open-source API management platform that provides a powerful API gateway, analytics, and developer portal to help you secure and manage your services with ease.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Akto | Tyk |
|---|---|---|
| Website | akto.io | tyk.io |
| 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 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, India | London, UK |
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.
Tyk
Tyk is an open-source API management platform designed to give you total control over your API ecosystem. You can manage the entire lifecycle of your APIs, from initial design and security to monitoring and developer engagement. It provides a lightweight but powerful gateway that handles authentication, rate limiting, and data transformation without slowing down your services.
You can deploy Tyk anywhere—in the cloud, on-premises, or as a hybrid solution—giving you the flexibility to match your existing infrastructure. It is built for developers and platform engineers who need a scalable way to secure their microservices. Whether you are a small startup or a global enterprise, you can use its intuitive dashboard and detailed analytics to gain deep insights into how your APIs are performing in real-time.
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.
Tyk Features
- API Gateway. Control your API traffic with a high-performance gateway that handles authentication, quotas, and rate limiting automatically.
- Developer Portal. Create a branded home for your developers where they can register, manage keys, and read your API documentation.
- Detailed Analytics. Visualize your API usage patterns and track errors with real-time charts to identify issues before they impact users.
- Universal Data Graph. Combine multiple data sources into a single GraphQL endpoint without writing any custom code or middleware.
- Flexible Deployment. Run your gateway in the cloud, on your own servers, or across multiple regions with native Kubernetes support.
- Security & Auth. Secure your endpoints using OAuth2, OIDC, or custom tokens to ensure only authorized users access your data.
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
Tyk Pricing
- Full API Gateway
- Open Source license
- Community support
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited APIs
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Managed Control Plane
- Multi-region support
- Technical support
- Dashboard access
- Developer portal
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
Tyk
Pros
- Extremely flexible deployment options for hybrid environments
- Powerful GraphQL integration via Universal Data Graph
- Highly performant gateway with very low latency
- Responsive and helpful technical support team
- Feature-rich open-source version for self-hosting
Cons
- Steep learning curve for initial configuration
- Documentation can be dense for new users
- Dashboard interface feels dated compared to competitors
- Pricing for enterprise tiers is quite high