Apache APISIX vs Azure API Management:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Apache APISIX had more branded searches than Azure API Management among API gateways worldwide. Apache APISIX had about 9,000 branded searches, while Azure API Management had 6,600. Apache APISIX made up 12.4% of all API gateway searches we track, and Azure API Management accounted for 9.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about API gateways, Apache APISIX and Azure API Management each appeared in three of the five answers. Apache APISIX and Azure API Management were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Apache APISIX, about 36% more searches than Azure API Management
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top API gateways in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apache APISIX and Azure API Management were each mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Apache APISIX and Azure API Management were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Kong1st
AWS API Gateway2nd- Apache APISIX3rd
Azure API Management4th
Apigee5th
Tyk6th
Zuplo7th
KrakenD–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- AWS API Gateway5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Kong5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Apigee3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Apache APISIX3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Azure API Management3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Tyk2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Zuplo2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- KrakenD0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about API gateways
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which API gateway should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best API gateways?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best API gateway for backend teams?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“api gateways”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“api gateway for microservices”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Apache APISIX or Azure API Management more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apache APISIX and Azure API Management by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight API gateways we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Apache APISIX, Azure API Management. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apigee | Tyk | AWS API Gateway | Apache APISIX | Azure API Management | Kong | KrakenD | Zuplo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 30.5% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 9.7% | 9.1% | 10.8% | 5% | 1.5% |
| Nov 2025 | 28.8% | 15.7% | 19.2% | 11.1% | 10.5% | 8.3% | 4.7% | 1.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 31.2% | 17% | 17.1% | 12.1% | 7.6% | 9% | 4.1% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 29.2% | 19.5% | 16% | 11.3% | 8.7% | 8.4% | 4.7% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 30.1% | 16.5% | 20.2% | 10% | 9% | 8.1% | 4% | 2.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 28.2% | 18.8% | 15.4% | 11.4% | 10.3% | 9.4% | 4.6% | 2% |
| Apr 2026 | 30.2% | 16.5% | 16.5% | 11.7% | 11% | 8.1% | 4% | 1.8% |
| May 2026 | 30.2% | 20.2% | 16.5% | 11.7% | 9% | 6.7% | 4% | 1.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 31.8% | 17.3% | 14.2% | 12.9% | 9.5% | 8.2% | 4.2% | 1.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 33.7% | 15% | 15.1% | 13.7% | 8.2% | 8.7% | 3.6% | 2% |
| Aug 2026 | 30.5% | 20.4% | 13.6% | 12.4% | 9.1% | 7.8% | 4% | 2.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 30.7% | 20.4% | 13.7% | 12.4% | 9.1% | 7.9% | 4% | 1.8% |
How has the Apache APISIX and Azure API Management comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Apache APISIX was ahead of Azure API Management in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apache APISIX’s share of searches among API gateways worldwide moved from 9.7% to 12.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 10.5K to 9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Azure API Management’s share of searches among API gateways worldwide held steady at 9.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 6.6K.
How did search popularity change for API gateways worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Azure API Management worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 9.9K to 6.6K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Apache APISIX worldwide fell 14.3% over 12 measured months, from 10.5K to 9K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apache APISIX’s and Azure API Management’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Apache APISIX
2 branded search terms
- apache apisix
- apisix
Azure API Management
1 branded search term
- azure api management
Other head-to-heads among API gateways
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