IBM API Connect vs. MuleSoft Anypoint Platform

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
IBM API Connect
Score 8.8 out of 10
N/A
IBM API Connect is a scalable API solution that helps organizations implement a robust API strategy by creating, exposing, managing and monetizing an entire API ecosystem across multiple clouds. As businesses embrace their digital transformation journey, APIs become critical to unlock the value of business data and assets. With increasing adoption of APIs, consistency and governance are needed across the enterprise. API Connect aims to help businesses…
$83
per month
Anypoint Platform
Score 8.1 out of 10
N/A
The Anypoint Platform developed by MuleSoft and acquired by Salesforce in early 2018 is designed to connect apps, data, and devices anywhere, on-premises or in the cloud. This platform was built to offer out-of-the-box connectors as well as tools that architects and developers can adopt quickly to design, build and manage the entire lifecycle of their APIs, applications, and products.N/A
Pricing
IBM API ConnectMuleSoft Anypoint Platform
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
IBM API ConnectAnypoint Platform
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
IBM API ConnectMuleSoft Anypoint Platform
Considered Both Products
IBM API Connect
Chose IBM API Connect
Prior to adopting IBM API Connect, there were two main competitors, MuleSoft. Although in the integration capabilities MuleSoft seemed to have an advantage, and regarding developer experience, IBM API Connect had a set of enterprise features for the API management.
Chose IBM API Connect
Mulesoft seemed to take a lot longer to implement and reach any real ROI attribution. For the other competitors, I'd say they are easier to administrate, but this isn't as important to us as a business user. It was easier to explore APIs with IBM than it was with others.
Chose IBM API Connect
IBM API Connect is easier to use and develop API flows. The developer community and IBM Support are outstanding compared to other peers.
Anypoint Platform
Chose MuleSoft Anypoint Platform
Mulesoft is a more modern, flexible, and faster-performing integration suite than traditional providers.
Features
IBM API ConnectMuleSoft Anypoint Platform
API Management
Comparison of API Management features of Product A and Product B
IBM API Connect
8.4
57 Ratings
0% below category average
MuleSoft Anypoint Platform
-
Ratings
API access control8.957 Ratings00 Ratings
Rate limits and usage policies8.852 Ratings00 Ratings
API usage data8.755 Ratings00 Ratings
API user onboarding8.656 Ratings00 Ratings
API versioning8.356 Ratings00 Ratings
Usage billing and payments7.645 Ratings00 Ratings
API monitoring and logging8.256 Ratings00 Ratings
Cloud Data Integration
Comparison of Cloud Data Integration features of Product A and Product B
IBM API Connect
-
Ratings
MuleSoft Anypoint Platform
7.1
12 Ratings
13% below category average
Pre-built connectors00 Ratings7.812 Ratings
Connector modification00 Ratings7.412 Ratings
Support for real-time and batch integration00 Ratings7.212 Ratings
Data quality services00 Ratings6.012 Ratings
Data security features00 Ratings6.812 Ratings
Monitoring console00 Ratings7.412 Ratings
Best Alternatives
IBM API ConnectMuleSoft Anypoint Platform
Small Businesses
NGINX
NGINX
Score 9.7 out of 10
Make
Make
Score 9.3 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
NGINX
NGINX
Score 9.7 out of 10
IBM App Connect
IBM App Connect
Score 9.3 out of 10
Enterprises
NGINX
NGINX
Score 9.7 out of 10
IBM App Connect
IBM App Connect
Score 9.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
IBM API ConnectMuleSoft Anypoint Platform
Likelihood to Recommend
8.8
(50 ratings)
8.0
(24 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.2
(4 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
8.6
(43 ratings)
7.4
(4 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
6.8
(4 ratings)
User Testimonials
IBM API ConnectMuleSoft Anypoint Platform
Likelihood to Recommend
IBM
Based on our experience, IBM API Connect clearly excels in large enterprises navigating complex B2B ecosystems, especially within the Fintech and Banking sectors. Its capabilities are particularly valuable for achieving Open Banking compliance, facilitating the monetization of data and services, and seamlessly operating in hybrid cloud environments. However, it's crucial to understand that IBM API Connect primarily functions as an API management and orchestration tool. This means that backend integrations with providers like databases are best handled by dedicated integration middleware, such as IBM App Connect, allowing API Connect to then securely and efficiently expose those functionalities to external entities.
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Salesforce
MuleSoft Anypoint Platform is best tool in the market for developing APIs with complex structures communicating with various different types of applications including web applications as well as legacy applications. Also applications including database connectivity for fetching and updating data in the DB tables. I cant think of any scenario which MuleSoft Anypoint Platform could not be used for developing the integrations.
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Pros
IBM
  • API discovery feature is very helpful to allow us to scope the work required before diving into things.
  • The ability to set permissions and rulesets at a user level is essential to restrict access to specific datasets.
  • Ability for external users (those from outside our organisation) to leverage the API in more restrictive manner.
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Salesforce
  • API Manager provides easy API Policy Governance. You do not have to manage multiple platforms for managing the policies.
  • Supports hybrid Mule EBS environments. You can configure both CouldHub-based and on-premise-based API using Mulesoft API manager in a similar manner.
  • It's very easy to implement API proxy.
  • User friendly UI.
  • Single platform to manage all.
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Cons
IBM
  • Improvement can come in the interface of the tool, which is sometimes complex and requires a deep understanding of the tool.
  • Improving the different levels of access to the playroom could be helpful because product owners and developers need to see other information.
  • Publishing API and integration of API can be more straightforward.
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Salesforce
  • Has more features than what we really need so we're paying for more than we use. Sort of like paying for an Abrams tank when all we really need is a Toyota Corolla.
  • Not a value product, tends to be expensive.
  • Takes a while for developers to learn to use Mulesoft Anypoint.
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Usability
IBM
I can honestly say that the availability of the platform has been incredible, with almost no disruptions during the two years of the implementation. Availability is provided through the distributed architecture that may be deployed in multiple zones. We have had almost no cases of unplanned outages, and most maintenance operations were done during planned downtimes.
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Salesforce
There’s a lot of learning curve at the beginning when it comes to building the code and everything. In terms of usability, I’d say once you get used to it, it’s fine — but it’s not very easy during the initial stages.
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Support Rating
IBM
No answers on this topic
Salesforce
Anypoint Platform support is very responsive. There is also a huge knowledge base and an active online forum where answers to most questions can be found. When needed support engages the engineering group so adequate solutions or workarounds are always provided.
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Alternatives Considered
IBM
IBM API Connect and Apigee are both robust API management platforms. IBM API Connect was selected for its strong integration capabilities, hybrid cloud deployment options, and comprehensive analytics. It aligns well with organizations seeking flexibility and control over their API ecosystems, especially when dealing with complex integration scenarios across diverse environments.
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Salesforce
Once we have moved all of our system integration APIs to the MuleSoft Anypoint Platform, we will need to communicate with a wide variety of external systems. All of our business and service logic is stored in the aforementioned core systems. Anypoint Platform (and all of our APIs) makes it easy to connect to various other platforms. In order to link to these many other systems, connectors and/or components are utilized, and they are simple to configure and integrate.
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Return on Investment
IBM
  • Our company benefited from IBM API Connect's assistance in establishing cooperation with our outside providers and efficiently managing the API. As a result, we were able to expand our vendor ecosystem.
  • Additionally, creating APIs and implementing them on the goods was not too difficult. Additionally, we were able to ensure that only appropriate people could publish the APIs following evaluation by using role-based access control.
  • Our teams were able to reuse and share departmental APIs and services with each other thanks to the simple, self-service developer site.
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Salesforce
  • Mulesoft can be used to provide an integration platform to a large number of systems like Salesforce, ODBC, JDBC, SAP, Mongo DB, etc.
  • An excellent option to develop microservices and real-time integrations.
  • Not as robust in handling large data volumes, Informatica is better in that respect.
Read full review
ScreenShots

IBM API Connect Screenshots

Screenshot of API tests and insightsScreenshot of API Manager customization interfaceScreenshot of the API designer

Anypoint Platform Screenshots

Screenshot of Connect any endpoints using out-of-the-box connectors, dynamic connectivity to API specifications, or by building reusable connectors with Anypoint DevKit™.Screenshot of A reporting suite that provides a real-time view of API consumption trends and operational performance. Analytics provides insight into how your API is being used and informs forward-looking design decisions.Screenshot of A platform to engage with API developers and drive adoption. Share documentation, examples and manage developer access from a single platform.