Integration & Data
API Management Software
Updated August 2026 · By the ERP Research Editorial Team · Independent and vendor-neutral — no vendor pays for placement or ranking.
API management software lets teams design, publish, secure, version and monitor the APIs that other applications use to talk to your ERP and the rest of your software stack. Instead of exposing raw database endpoints, an API gateway sits in front of your systems, enforcing authentication, rate limits and versioning, while a developer portal documents each API for the internal and external teams that build against it.
This guide compares the leading API management platforms, from hyperscaler-native gateways like AWS API Gateway and Azure API Management to full lifecycle suites like Apigee, Kong, WSO2 API Manager and Red Hat 3scale, on gateway depth, developer portal quality, security controls, pricing model and how each one fits alongside an ERP integration layer such as SAP BTP, MuleSoft or Boomi.
Compare API management software
| Product | Works with | Pricing | Deployment |
|---|---|---|---|
 Amazon API GatewayFully managed AWS service for creating, publishing and securing REST, HTTP and WebSocket APIs. |  SAP | HTTP APIs from 1.00 dollar per million calls for the first 300 million per month, then 0.90 dollars per million | Cloud |
| SAP | Consumption-based (pay-as-you-go) and quote-based subscription tiers | Cloud/Hybrid | |
| ERP-agnostic | Quote-based | Cloud/On-premise/Hybrid | |
| SAP | Tiered subscription (Consumption, Developer, Basic/Basic v2, Standard/Standard v2, Premium/Premium v2) plus a separate AI Gateway tier | Cloud/Hybrid | |
 NetSuiteSAP Oracle+2 more | Quote-based | Cloud/On-premise | |
| ERP-agnostic | From $83/month for the Standard SaaS tier, billed annually | Cloud/On-premise/Hybrid | |
| ERP-agnostic | Free open-source tier plus tiered Konnect SaaS subscriptions and custom Enterprise pricing | Cloud/On-premise/Hybrid | |
| SAPOracle+1 more | Quote-based | Cloud/Hybrid/On-premises | |
| ERP-agnostic | Free tier available; paid plans from $9/user/month (Solo, billed annually) | Cloud | |
| ERP-agnostic | Quote-based (Red Hat subscription) | Cloud/On-premise/Hybrid | |
| SAP | Quote-based | Cloud/Hybrid | |
| ERP-agnostic | Open source (free, self-hosted) or usage-based subscription tiers (Basic, Pro, Enterprise) | Cloud/On-premise/Hybrid |
ERP integration coverage
Which api management products have a standard connector to your ERP — and how deep it goes. Badges link to the marketplace listing or vendor documentation we verified.
| Product | SAP | Oracle Fusion Cloud | NetSuite | Microsoft Dynamics 365 | Workday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MuleSoft Anypoint Platform | Prebuilt | Prebuilt | Prebuilt | API | Prebuilt |
| Boomi | iPaaS | iPaaS | iPaaS | iPaaS | |
| SAP Integration Suite | Prebuilt | API | API | Prebuilt |
Certified = listed on the ERP vendor's official marketplace. Prebuilt = productised vendor-built connector. iPaaS = official integration-platform template. API = integration is possible via documented APIs but no productised connector was evidenced. A dash means we found no evidence — not that no integration exists.
Amazon API GatewayAmazon Web Services, Inc.SAPSAPSAPNetSuiteSAPOracle
Dynamics 365+1SAPOracleSalesforceWhat is API management software?
API management software covers the full lifecycle of an API: designing and documenting it, publishing it through a gateway that handles authentication, throttling and routing, securing it against abuse, versioning it as it evolves, and monitoring its usage and performance. Most platforms bundle four core pieces: an API gateway that sits between callers and backend systems, a developer portal where internal or external developers can discover and self-serve API keys, an analytics layer that tracks call volume, latency and errors, and a policy engine for rate limiting, quotas and access control. In an ERP context, API management typically fronts the APIs an ERP or middleware platform exposes, so integrations, partner apps and internal tools consume a governed, versioned interface instead of connecting directly to production systems. It is distinct from iPaaS, which focuses on moving and transforming data between systems in bulk rather than governing individual API endpoints.
How to choose API management software
Gateway depth and protocol support
Support for REST, GraphQL, SOAP and gRPC, plus policy enforcement for auth, rate limiting, caching and transformation at the gateway layer.
Developer portal quality
A self-service portal where internal or partner developers can browse API docs, generate keys and test calls without opening a ticket.
Security and access control
OAuth2, API keys, mTLS and fine-grained scopes, with audit logging for every call, which matters most when APIs front financial or customer data.
Deployment model
Fully managed cloud gateway versus self-hosted or hybrid deployment, and whether it runs inside your existing cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) or on-prem estate.
Analytics and monitoring
Real-time dashboards on call volume, latency, error rates and quota consumption, ideally with alerting when an integration starts failing.
ERP and integration-platform fit
Documented patterns or connectors for fronting ERP APIs (SAP BTP, NetSuite SuiteTalk, Dynamics 365 Web API) or sitting alongside an iPaaS layer like MuleSoft or Boomi.
API Management that works with your ERP
Most ERPs now expose their own APIs directly (SAP BTP API Business Hub, NetSuite SuiteTalk, Dynamics 365 Web API, Oracle Fusion REST APIs), but exposing them raw to every internal team, partner and third-party app quickly becomes a governance problem: no consistent auth, no rate limiting, no single place to see what is calling what. An API management layer sits in front of those ERP APIs and gives IT one place to secure, throttle, version and monitor them, whether the API is consumed by a custom internal tool, a partner integration or a broader iPaaS platform like MuleSoft or Boomi. Every product below is profiled with its gateway model, security controls and how it typically fits alongside an ERP or integration-platform layer, so you can shortlist by architecture fit rather than brand alone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an API gateway and API management?
An API gateway is the runtime component that sits between callers and your backend, handling routing, authentication and rate limiting for each request. API management is the broader discipline: the gateway plus a developer portal, analytics, versioning and lifecycle governance for every API you publish. Most vendors sell a full API management platform that includes a gateway as one piece, rather than selling the gateway alone.
What is the best API management software?
The best choice depends on your cloud and scale. Teams already on AWS or Azure often start with the native gateway (AWS API Gateway, Azure API Management) for cost and integration simplicity. Enterprises with multi-cloud or on-prem needs and a large internal developer base typically choose a full platform like Apigee, Kong, WSO2, Axway Amplify or Red Hat 3scale for deeper lifecycle, security and developer-portal features. Compare the options below by deployment model, gateway depth and ERP fit.
How much does API management software cost?
Hyperscaler-native gateways like AWS API Gateway and Azure API Management publish pay-as-you-go pricing based on API calls, typically a low dollar amount per million requests. Full platforms such as Apigee, Kong, WSO2 API Manager, Axway Amplify and Red Hat 3scale are largely quote-based, priced on call volume, number of APIs or a per-gateway-node model, with self-hosted open-source tiers available from some vendors. Each profile below notes the published pricing model where available.
Does API management software integrate with my ERP?
Most API management platforms do not connect to your ERP directly out of the box; instead they act as the governed front door for APIs your ERP already exposes (SAP BTP, NetSuite SuiteTalk, Dynamics 365 Web API). If you need to move and transform ERP data in bulk rather than govern individual API calls, an iPaaS platform such as MuleSoft, Boomi or SAP Integration Suite is usually the better starting point; see our iPaaS comparison for that layer.
Do I need both an iPaaS platform and API management software?
Larger integration estates often run both: an iPaaS platform (MuleSoft, Boomi, SAP Integration Suite) handles bulk data movement, transformation and orchestration between systems, while API management governs how individual APIs — including any the iPaaS exposes — are secured, versioned and consumed by internal and partner developers. Smaller teams with a handful of point-to-point integrations may only need one; the right mix depends on how many systems and external developers you serve.