Frends vs WSO2 API Manager comparison

Frends Enterprise iPaaS and WSO2 are both solutions in the API Management category. Frends Enterprise iPaaS is ranked #22 with an average rating of 8.7, while WSO2 is ranked #9 with an average rating of 7.7. Frends Enterprise iPaaS holds a 0.2% mindshare in APIM, compared to WSO2’s 4.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Frends Enterprise iPaaS users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of WSO2 users who would recommend it.

Frends

Read 3 Frends reviews

187 Views
91 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

WSO2 API Manager

Read 40 WSO2 API Manager reviews

6,382 Views
4,570 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Frends

WSO2 API Manager

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

WSO2 API Manager and Frends compete in the API management space. Frends appears to have an advantage due to its faster implementation and ease of use, while WSO2 API Manager is preferred for its comprehensive open-source solution and customization.

Features: WSO2 API Manager provides substantial customization, robust security, and seamless integration capabilities with comprehensive governance and analytics features. Frends offers streamlined integration processes, minimal coding needs, and real-time monitoring, simplifying API management and making it ideal for rapid deployment without extensive customization.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: WSO2 API Manager requires significant time investment due to its extensive support resources necessary for navigating complex deployments. Frends excels with its straightforward deployment model, intuitive tools, and simplified API setups, along with responsive customer service, making it more accessible for quick implementation.

Pricing and ROI: WSO2 API Manager offers an open-source option, which is cost-effective but requires investment in skilled resources affecting short-term ROI. Frends, with higher upfront costs, delivers faster time-to-market and simpler maintenance, offering potentially quicker ROI. The decision depends on whether the priority is lower setup costs with ongoing customization needs or higher initial investment for faster deployment and ease of use.

To learn more, read our detailed Frends vs. WSO2 API Manager Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Frends vs. WSO2 API Manager

March 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 846,617 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Frends

Ranking in API Management

22nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

WSO2 API Manager

Ranking in API Management

9th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the API Management category, the mindshare of Frends is 0.2%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WSO2 API Manager is 4.8%, up from 4.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Management

Featured Reviews

Kalle Reponen

Senior Integration Architect at Visma

Offers simplicity, ease of customization, and visibility of integrations

One thing is that Frends keep the integration, and that is something I know that it's coming, like, a later version; that is something we will be currently missing. So the end-users could take an interest in use by themselves, with the release thing some result flow. That is the most wanted and requested feature for now. Another enhancement includes the monitoring part. It would be nice to have some sort of maybe mobile app on which we can see how integrations are running if there are some problems, and getting those alerts on the mobile would be really nice.

Read full review

VishalSingh14

IT Engineer at Reliance Industries Ltd

Easy to deploy APIs and easy to manage CORS configuration

I have used WSO2 Store and WSO2 API Manager at the architecture level. I worked on two versions, namely WSO2 API Manager 2.6.0 and 5.7.0. I have also worked with WSO2 Identity Server versions 5.7 and 5.11. There are certain things that Apigee handles better than WSO2 API Manager. The user interface of WSO2 API Manager is much easier than that of Apigee. The scope of flexibility was much greater in Apigee. In WSO2 API Manager, we had little flexibility and were restricted to a specific software or tool. On the other hand, we had the scope of customization in Apigee.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The product has valuable features for version control."

"The user-friendly interface for constructing integration solutions is also a notable benefit."

"One of the benefits is the speed of creating something new. Second, it's replacing the old integration quite fast. Then it is like the visibility of the integration and the possibility to see what is happening in the integration."

"It's a good product."

"API management lifecycle is the most valuable."

"Based on the information I have, the solution's most valuable feature is its capability of implementing custom solutions."

"The user interface is easy to navigate, and the documentation is extensive. It's open-source, so everything is available, and we can create what we need. That's not necessarily a feature, but it's an advantage."

"WSO2 API Manager is a stable solution."

"There are a lot of tools to help the manager. WSO2 is very easy to install. It has all the principal functionalities that you think about when you want to put up the management solution. It's a very friendly tool."

"This solution is a little bit faster, easier to use, and has better integration than the other solutions I have experienced."

"A complete integration suite and a good platform."

More WSO2 API Manager pros

Cons

"It is a new application and lacks some essential features compared to competitors."

"Another enhancement includes the monitoring part. It would be nice to have some sort of maybe mobile app on which we can see how integrations are running if there are some problems, and getting those alerts on the mobile would be really nice."

"One of the primary areas for improvement is a more mobile-friendly interface for the control center."

"The interface needs to be modernized and made more user friendly so the product continues to have a growing community of users."

"Integration is an area that needs to be improved."

"WSO2 API Manager could increase their security compliance."

"API Manager is not easy to scale because some of its components lack scalability. It's a difficult point. Especially because companies are so cloud-based these days, microservice scalability is a major thing."

"The pricing models offered by WSO2 API Manager could be more flexible and should offer different options so that more people can access them."

"I would like to see improvements in the speed of the solution as it can be a bit slow compared to other platforms along with addressing memory issues would be beneficial."

"WSO2 API Manager could improve by adding external API security features, which is one area where there is room for enhancement. Internally, API security is strong, and all other necessary features are already available. It has a solid marketplace, supports both Docker and standalone setups, and offers great enterprise integration. The developer portal has greatly improved the user experience, making it simple and user-friendly wherever we’ve implemented it. Overall, it’s not as complicated as other API gateways."

"In WSO2 API Manager, we had little flexibility and were restricted to a specific software or tool."

More WSO2 API Manager cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is quite fair."

"Recent changes in their pricing have removed this benefit, moving towards process-specific pricing."

"WSO2 API Manager is a low-cost solution. It is one of the most affordable solutions."

"WSO2 API Manager is quite an expensive tool. I rate the product's pricing a nine on a scale of one to ten, where one is low and ten is high."

"We use the open-source version — the free version."

"It's not expensive, but it could be cheaper."

"I am using the free version."

"The solution costs less than 20,000 euros a year. I'm not sure of the exact number."

"For our projects, we found the pricing to be a little high."

"We have not opted for the paid version of WSO2 but we have implemented the free and open source WSO2 software to a great extent and it is working as per our expectation."

More WSO2 API Manager pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which API Management solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

846,617 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

59%

Computer Software Company

14%

Construction Company

Insurance Company

Financial Services Firm

18%

Computer Software Company

18%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Frends?

The product has valuable features for version control.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Frends?

The pricing is quite fair. It is quite low compared to competitors, especially when you consider that Frends is a US-based company. So, it's almost cheap compared to them. But, we have an unlimited...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Frends?

It is a new application and lacks some essential features compared to competitors. Basic features like reading and editing into Excel file format could be included.

See all answers

What do you like most about WSO2 API Manager?

It is possible to scale up and scale down with the solution...I can say that I have not seen any issues related to scalability.

See all answers

What needs improvement with WSO2 API Manager?

One area for improvement is monitoring. Dashboards for application monitoring of the APIs would be beneficial, allowing us to check for faulty APIs.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for WSO2 API Manager?

We use WSO2 API Manager for our microservices and our APIs, both internally and externally.

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Azure API Management vs Frends

Compared 100% of the time

More Frends Competitors

Apigee vs WSO2 API Manager

Compared 23% of the time

Kong Gateway Enterprise vs WSO2 API Manager

Compared 17% of the time

Apache APISIX vs WSO2 API Manager

Compared 15% of the time

Amazon API Gateway vs WSO2 API Manager

Compared 13% of the time

Microsoft Azure API Management vs WSO2 API Manager

Compared 11% of the time

More WSO2 API Manager Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

API Management

April 2025

Download Frends product report

Buyer's Guide

WSO2 API Manager

March 2025

Download WSO2 API Manager product report

Overview

Frends is a versatile integration platform tailored for streamlined business operations, facilitating seamless automation and connectivity across systems. It effectively addresses integration challenges, providing a reliable foundation for efficient data flow and process enhancement.

Built to cater to complex business environments, Frends offers a comprehensive suite of integration solutions. Users appreciate its capability to simplify integration processes, leveraging robust tools and functionalities that enhance connectivity and automation. This adaptability makes it a preferred choice for enterprises aiming to boost efficiency in data management and workflow automation. Users value its easy-to-use yet powerful features that help bridge various IT systems and improve operational performance. Frends provides meaningful insights into data interactions, fostering informed decision-making and enabling strategic business growth.

What are the key features of Frends?

Intuitive Workflow Designer: Simplifies the creation and management of complex workflows through a user-friendly interface.
API Management: Offers comprehensive tools for designing, deploying, and monitoring APIs efficiently.
Scalability: Ensures the ability to grow with business needs by efficiently handling increasing data volumes.
Security: Provides robust security features to protect data and ensure compliance with industry standards.

What should users look for in terms of benefits and ROI?

Improved Efficiency: Automates processes reducing manual intervention and increasing productivity.
Reduced Costs: Streamlines operations to save resources and reduce operational expenses.
Enhanced Flexibility: Adapts to changing business environments and requirements smoothly.
Increased Data Accuracy: Ensures seamless data flow, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of business information.

In specific industries, Frends is implemented to address distinct challenges in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and logistics. In healthcare, it automates patient data management, enabling efficient record handling. Finance sectors utilize Frends for secure data exchange and compliance, while logistics firms leverage it for optimizing supply chain operations and enhancing tracking capabilities.

Frends Enterprise iPaaS

WSO2 API Manager is a comprehensive platform that allows organizations to design, publish, and manage APIs.

It provides a centralized interface for API governance, security, and analytics.

With features like API monetization and developer portal, it enables businesses to drive innovation and create new revenue streams.

WSO2

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

1. eBay 2. StubHub 3. Cisco 4. Verizon 5. T-Mobile 6. Vodafone 7. Orange 8. BT Group 9. Telstra 10. Deutsche Telekom 11. Swisscom 12. AT&T 13. Sprint 14. Telefonica 15. O2 16. British Airways 17. Lufthansa 18. Emirates 19. Qatar Airways 20. Etihad Airways 21. Air France 22. KLM 23. American Express 24. Visa 25. Mastercard 26. PayPal 27. Western Union 28. Citibank 29. HSBC 30. Barclays 31. Santander 32. Goldman Sachs

Buyer's Guide

Frends vs. WSO2 API Manager

March 2025

Free Report: Frends vs. WSO2 API Manager

Find out what your peers are saying about Frends vs. WSO2 API Manager and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

846,617 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Frends vs. WSO2 API Manager report.

See our list of best API Management vendors.

We monitor all API Management reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.