Brandwave

Kong vs WSO2 API Manager:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Kong had more branded searches than WSO2 API Manager among API management platforms worldwide. Kong had about 5,700 branded searches, while WSO2 API Manager had 1,900. Kong made up 4.2% of all API management platform searches we track, and WSO2 API Manager accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about API management platforms, Kong and WSO2 API Manager each appeared in four of the five answers. Kong was mentioned before WSO2 API Manager in three out of five answers.

Among API management platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Kong, about 3 searches for every 1 for WSO2 API Manager

Kong 5.7K searchesWSO2 API Manager 1.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

Kong in 4 of 5WSO2 API Manager in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Kong, named ahead of WSO2 API Manager in 3 of 5 answers

Kong first in 3WSO2 API Manager first in 2

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Top API management platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kong was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. WSO2 API Manager was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Kong was listed before WSO2 API Manager in three out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Azure API Management1st
  2. Apigee2nd
  3. AWS API Gateway3rd
  4. Kong4th
  5. WSO2 API Manager5th
  6. Postman6th
  7. MuleSoft7th
  8. Tyk8th
  9. Gravitee9th
  10. SwaggerHub–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Apigee5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • AWS API Gateway5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Azure API Management5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Postman4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kong4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • WSO2 API Manager4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Gravitee3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • MuleSoft2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Tyk2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • SwaggerHub0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about API management platforms

5 answers

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 Kong or WSO2 API Manager more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Kong and WSO2 API Manager by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten API management platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Kong and WSO2 API Manager among API management platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Kong, WSO2 API Manager. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMuleSoftApigeePostmanTykAWS API GatewayAzure API ManagementGraviteeKongSwaggerHubWSO2 API Manager
Oct 202535.8%16%13.4%8.8%8.8%4.8%3.2%5.7%2.1%1.4%
Nov 202534.8%15.6%13.5%8.5%10.4%5.7%3.1%4.5%2.5%1.4%
Dec 202533%18.1%12.8%9.9%9.9%4.4%3.6%5.2%1.9%1.3%
Jan 202635.9%16.1%12%10.7%8.8%4.8%3.9%4.6%2.1%1.1%
Feb 202635.3%15.8%13.7%8.6%10.6%4.7%3.8%4.3%2.1%1.1%
Mar 202634.5%15.4%13.4%10.3%8.4%5.6%3.8%5.1%2.1%1.4%
Apr 202635.7%16%13.9%8.7%8.7%5.8%3.9%4.3%1.7%1.1%
May 202632.5%17.8%12.6%11.9%9.7%5.3%3.5%3.9%1.6%1.2%
Jun 202633.1%18.1%13.5%9.9%8.1%5.4%4.4%4.7%1.6%1.3%
Jul 202634%18.6%13.9%8.3%8.3%4.5%4.5%4.8%1.6%1.3%
Aug 202635.9%16.1%13.9%10.7%7.2%4.8%4.8%4.1%1.4%1.2%
Sep 202636.2%16.3%12.8%10.8%7.3%4.8%4.8%4.2%1.4%1.4%

How has the Kong and WSO2 API Manager comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for API management platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kong worldwide fell 51.3% over 12 measured months, from 11.7K to 5.7K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for WSO2 API Manager worldwide fell 34.5% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 1.9K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kong’s and WSO2 API Manager’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.

Kong

3 branded search terms

  • kong api
  • kong inc
  • konginc

WSO2 API Manager

1 branded search term

  • wso2 api manager

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among API management platforms

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