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IBM API Connect vs. MuleSoft Anypoint Platform vs. Akana

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    IBM API Connect

    Score8.9 out of 10
    N/AIBM 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

    Score8.1 out of 10
    N/AThe 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

    Akana

    Score10 out of 10
    N/AAkana provides an end-to-end, full lifecycle API management tool for designing, implementing, securing, managing, monitoring, and publishing APIs. Suited for large enterprises and federated API partner ecosystems, Akana can be deployed natively across clouds and on-premises, enables customers to deploy securely via an integrated no-code portal, and provides detailed business analytics. Akana, a Rogue Wave solution, was acquired with Rogue Wave Software by Perforce in 2019.N/A
    Pricing
    IBM API ConnectAnypoint PlatformAkana
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    IBM API ConnectAnypoint PlatformAkana
    Free Trial
    YesYesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoYesNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    IBM API ConnectAnypoint PlatformAkana
    Considered Multiple Products
    IBM
    Chose IBM API Connect
    Brand reputation, product functions
    Incentivized
    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.
    Incentivized
    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.
    Incentivized
    Chose IBM API Connect
    IBM APIC far and away blows the other two systems I've used out of the water. There really isn't any comparison, in my humble opinion. Ease of use, security, versioning, efficiency, accountability are basically 'forced' by APIC, which allows less burden on the users themselves.
    Incentivized
    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.
    Incentivized
    Chose IBM API Connect
    IBM API CONNECT competitors have the following advantages:

    • Cost advantage
    Incentivized
    Salesforce
    Chose Anypoint Platform
    Mulesoft is a more modern, flexible, and faster-performing integration suite than traditional providers.
    Incentivized
    Perforce Software
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    93%
    Would buy again
    50 Answers
    93%
    Would buy again
    14 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    98%
    Delivers good value for the price
    40 Answers
    92%
    Delivers good value for the price
    12 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    89%
    Happy with the feature set
    48 Answers
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    15 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    92%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    36 Answers
    92%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    11 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    89%
    Implementation went as expected
    42 Answers
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    13 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    IBM API ConnectAnypoint PlatformAkana
    API Management
    Comparison of API Management features of IBM API Connect and MuleSoft Anypoint Platform and Akana
    Feature
    IBM API Connect
    8.4
    57 Ratings
    0% below category average
    MuleSoft Anypoint Platform
    -
    Ratings
    Akana
    -
    Ratings
    API access control8.957 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Rate limits and usage policies9.152 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    API usage data8.755 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    API user onboarding8.756 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    API versioning8.356 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Usage billing and payments7.645 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    API monitoring and logging7.856 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cloud Data Integration
    Comparison of Cloud Data Integration features of IBM API Connect and MuleSoft Anypoint Platform and Akana
    Feature
    IBM API Connect
    -
    Ratings
    MuleSoft Anypoint Platform
    9.7
    13 Ratings
    19% above category average
    Akana
    -
    Ratings
    Pre-built connectors00 Ratings9.714 Ratings00 Ratings
    Connector modification00 Ratings9.714 Ratings00 Ratings
    Support for real-time and batch integration00 Ratings9.714 Ratings00 Ratings
    Data quality services00 Ratings9.614 Ratings00 Ratings
    Data security features00 Ratings9.614 Ratings00 Ratings
    Monitoring console00 Ratings9.714 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    IBM API ConnectAnypoint PlatformAkana
    Small Businesses
    Amazon API Gateway
    Score7.2 out of 10
    Make
    Score9.3 out of 10
    Amazon API Gateway
    Score7.2 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Azure API Management
    Score9.1 out of 10
    IBM App Connect
    Score9 out of 10
    Azure API Management
    Score9.1 out of 10
    Enterprises
    OCI API Management
    Score7.9 out of 10
    Workato
    Score9.3 out of 10
    OCI API Management
    Score7.9 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    IBM API ConnectAnypoint PlatformAkana
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.0
    (50 ratings)
    8.9
    (26 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.4
    (4 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    8.6
    (43 ratings)
    8.7
    (6 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (6 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    IBM API ConnectAnypoint PlatformAkana
    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.
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Perforce Software
    No answers on this topic
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Perforce Software
    No answers on this topic
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Perforce Software
    No answers on this topic
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Salesforce
    We have migrated our existing over 100+ APIs from legacy to MuleSoft Anypoint Platform and the processing has seen over 40% improvement and saved huge amount in overall annual billing. From development perspective, MuleSoft Vibe has made developers life so easy and reduced development time. Extensive logging, and build-in connectors for other integration tools, logging and repo is providing kind of one place solutions. Any point Platform is providing various options like runtime, API manager, Access management, segregation of Business groups and so many other option which is helping us to monitor, configure and manage all our APIs in one place
    Read full review
    Perforce Software
    No answers on this topic
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Perforce Software
    No answers on this topic
    Online Training
    IBM
    No answers on this topic
    Salesforce
    I have started with MuleSoft Fundamentals course provided by MuleSoft training at start. This was sufficient to do initial learning and get onboarded. The online documentation with different Runtime versions/deprecated functions and keywords are well documented. The automated solution provided by MuleSoft Anypoint Platform to upgrade 3.0 to 4.0 gave a good head start while learning MuleSoft Anypoint Platform and working altogether with Online training and documentations
    Read full review
    Perforce Software
    No answers on this topic
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Perforce Software
    No answers on this topic
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Perforce Software
    No answers on this topic
    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.