IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs Microsoft Azure API Management comparison

IBM and Microsoft are both solutions in the API Management category. IBM is ranked #28 with an average rating of 8.5, while Microsoft is ranked #1 with an average rating of 7.9. IBM holds a 0.6% mindshare in APIM, compared to Microsoft’s 16.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Read 5 IBM Cloud Pak for Integration reviews

1,159 Views
556 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Azure API Management

Read 83 Microsoft Azure API Management reviews

16,995 Views
16,995 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Microsoft Azure API Management

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

Microsoft Azure API Management and IBM Cloud Pak for Integration are competitive solutions focusing on enterprise API management and integration. Microsoft's offering benefits from favorable pricing and robust support, appealing to budget-conscious users, whereas IBM's extensive feature set attracts enterprises seeking thorough integration solutions.

Features: Microsoft Azure API Management stands out for its intuitive setup, seamless integration with Microsoft environments, and durable security protocols. Its integration into the Azure ecosystem offers significant advantages for those already using Microsoft technologies. Alternatively, IBM Cloud Pak for Integration provides a versatile toolkit with components like IBM App Connect and Messaging, alongside AI-driven insights, positioning it as a leader in tackling complex digital transformation challenges.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Azure API Management could enhance its cross-platform support and expand upon its existing tools for diverse cloud environments. Enhancements in custom integration options and providing more real-time analytics could also be beneficial. IBM Cloud Pak for Integration could work on simplifying the initial deployment process, reduce user reliance on IBM-specific expertise, and aim to lower initial costs to be more accessible for smaller enterprises.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Azure API Management facilitates easy deployment, especially for businesses already within the Microsoft ecosystem, supported by responsive customer service. In contrast, IBM Cloud Pak for Integration potentially requires more IBM expertise during deployment. However, this is balanced by highly personalized and effective support that helps navigate complex integration scenarios effectively.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Azure API Management is praised for its cost-effective pricing model, aligning well with a range of business sizes, facilitating high ROI due to its comprehensive integration with Microsoft services. While IBM Cloud Pak for Integration might have higher upfront costs, its extensive feature offerings and deep integration capabilities aim to deliver justified ROI for enterprises looking beyond basic integration solutions to full-scale digital transformation efforts.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs. Microsoft Azure API Management Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs. Microsoft Azure API Management

September 2025

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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

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Ranking in API Management

28th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Data Integration (16th)

Microsoft Azure API Management

Ranking in API Management

1st

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2025, in the API Management category, the mindshare of IBM Cloud Pak for Integration is 0.6%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Azure API Management is 16.3%, down from 19.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Management Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft Azure API Management	16.3%
IBM Cloud Pak for Integration	0.6%
Other	83.1%

API Management

Featured Reviews

Neelima Golla

Senior Software Engineer at NessPRO Italy

A hybrid integration platform that applies the functionality of closed-loop AI automation

I recommend using it because, in today's context, the cloud plays a significant role. Within the same user interface, you can develop applications and manage multiple applications, making it a more user-friendly option. Moreover, you can explore various other technologies while deploying on the cloud, broadening your knowledge of cloud technologies. In my case, the transition led to my learning of Kubernetes, enabling multi-scaling and expanding my technical skills. It was a valuable experience, and I had the opportunity to learn many new things during the migration process. I can easily rate it an eight or nine out of ten.

Read full review

Abdul Ghani Shahzaib

Principal Consultant at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Ensures compliance and security in API integrations with a plug and play setup

We are working on almost everything Microsoft Businesses, Dynamics CRM and Dynamics FinOps ERP. We are utilizing Microsoft Azure hosting platform. We are using API service, Azure functions, event grid, API Management, and all types of Azure services on a need basis The integration and API Connect…

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 most preferable aspect would be the elimination of the command, which was a significant improvement. In the past, it was a challenge, but now we can proceed smoothly with the implementation of our policies and everything is managed through JCP. It's still among the positive aspects, and it's a valuable feature."

"Redirection is a key feature. It helps in managing multiple microservices by centralizing control and access."

"Cloud Pak for Integration is definitely scalable. That is the most important criteria."

"It is a stable solution."

"The most valuable aspect of the Cloud Pak, in general, is the flexibility that you have to use the product."

"I like the stability and the ease of use."

"Microsoft Azure API Management is better because it has a DevOps integration by default."

"The Application Gateway we have found to be the most useful in Microsoft Azure API Management. We have integrated the Microsoft Azure API Management with Application Gateway. Application Gateway is a type of load balancer that we are using for the high availability of our API calls."

"Azure API is scalable."

"I like the support they provide for the APIs more than the solution itself. First of all, documentation-wise, both Microsoft Azure and even Google Cloud are up there. But in comparison, the real-time consulting and support for APIs make Microsoft stand out a little. I also like the performance. Standard public cloud provider-built APIs are more resilient and flexible in terms of what feature you want to use and what feature you don't want to use, and they're more customizable. They are more resilient in terms of performance in that particular environment because that is the design aspect of the offering. When public clouds build APIs and deploy them after testing them on their framework for a certain amount of time, I feel there is a massive difference in the product's performance. On the interface, everything is strong."

"It seems quite good so far. It handles our current workload well, and I'm optimistic it can scale effectively as our needs grow."

"The API management and the hosting of the API platform are great."

"It’s easy to set up."

More Microsoft Azure API Management pros

Cons

"The pricing can be improved."

"The initial setup is not easy."

"Enterprise bots are needed to balance products like Kafka and Confluent."

"Its queuing and messaging features need improvement."

"Setting up Cloud Pak for Integration is relatively complex. It's not as easy because it has not yet been fully integrated. You still have some products that are still not containerized, so you still have to run them on a dedicated VM."

"The hybrid part could be improved because API Management is entirely cloud-based, but some of our resources are on-prem, so formatting is an issue. Our goal is dual implementation."

"It would be better if it were easier to transition to Azure from JIRA. For example, different nomenclature must be performed when you shift to Azure from JIRA. JIRA's storage, tasks, and ethics are treated differently from Azure. Here they might become functions, which is not an option in JIRA because that nomenclature difference is there. If someone has to get into the nomenclature, then there can be different tasks from clients, and here, they may be treated as functions. JIRA has sub-tasks, but sub-tasks don't exist in Azure. The nomenclature and the linking between ethics and a function and a story are different, and people may have to learn to adapt to the new nomenclature."

"Azure API Management could be improved with better integration with all of Microsoft's tools."

"The product needs to introduce a developer portal."

"Technical support could be more helpful and responsive."

"Microsoft Azure API Management could be improved by enhancing the preview feature, specifically the workspaces."

"Performance issues from this platform need to be sorted out."

"The integration with other API gateways is where they might try to improve."

More Microsoft Azure API Management cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is an expensive solution."

"The solution's pricing model is very flexible."

"It is an expensive solution, but any API solution will be expensive."

"Azure is a pay-as-you-go model. You build out your virtual environment and pay a monthly price depending on CPU cores, storage, etc."

"Because of our partner relationship, our pricing is pretty decent. But in general, if I compare pricing, I think the initial offer that we got from Microsoft until the relationship kicked in was more expensive than AWS. There were some unexpected expenses because we had to pause. This was due to our inexperience and because we were doing this significant public cloud migration for the first time. We were using SAP on a public cloud for the first time."

"I rate the solution's pricing between three and four, as it could be more competitive."

"Microsoft is competitively priced."

"Azure's pricing is very competitive compared to platforms like Apigee and MuleSoft."

"The licensing cost for Microsoft Azure API Management is publicly available and goes from a developer edition that costs $26 to $30 per month. It may have changed, but it's in the neighborhood of $30 per month. I believe there's also the enterprise edition, which is highly capable and costs $2,500 per month."

"Azure API Management is the most expensive solution on the market."

More Microsoft Azure API Management pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Government

11%

Healthcare Company

Insurance Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	23
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	53

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Cloud Pak for Integration?

The most preferable aspect would be the elimination of the command, which was a significant improvement. In the past, it was a challenge, but now we can proceed smoothly with the implementation of ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Cloud Pak for Integration?

Enterprise bots are needed to balance products like Kafka and Confluent.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Cloud Pak for Integration?

It manages APIs and integrates microservices at the enterprise level. It offers a range of capabilities for handling APIs, microservices, and various integration needs. The platform supports thousa...

See all answers

How does Apigee differ from Azure API Management?

Apigee offers both cloud-based and on-prem options while Microsoft Azure API Management currently only offers a cloud-based solution. Both solutions are easy to use. Apigee allows for the ability...

See all answers

Which is better - Azure API Management or Amazon API Gateway?

If you use Azure products, API Management is a great solution. It solves many of the problems of externalizing web services. For example, when you need versioning, establish a developer portal and ...

See all answers

What do you like most about Microsoft Azure API Management?

Microsoft Azure API Management is a good, comprehensive solution for enterprise implementation.

See all answers

Comparisons

IBM App Connect vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 33% of the time

IBM API Connect vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 13% of the time

MuleSoft API Manager vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 12% of the time

webMethods.io vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 11% of the time

Apigee vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 6% of the time

More IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Competitors

Amazon API Gateway vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 54% of the time

Apigee vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 12% of the time

IBM API Connect vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 5% of the time

Kong Gateway Enterprise vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 4% of the time

MuleSoft API Manager vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 4% of the time

More Microsoft Azure API Management Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

API Management

October 2025

Download IBM Cloud Pak for Integration product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure API Management

October 2025

Download Microsoft Azure API Management product report

Also Known As

No data available

Azure API Management, MS Azure API Management

Overview

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration gives you complete, flexible integration using capabilities you need to move at today's speed of business, including the tools to help you achieve your application modernization goals as part of your journey to the cloud.

IBM

Microsoft Azure API Management is essential for managing APIs, facilitating integration, and ensuring secure internal and external communication.

Organizations leverage Microsoft Azure API Management for seamless integration and effective API management. It supports microservices, legacy modernization, and platform orchestration in sectors like healthcare, telecom, and finance. Features such as developer portals and centralized libraries simplify usage. While it showcases strengths in hybrid cloud support and scalability, improvements are suggested in versioning and multi-tenancy.

What key features does it offer?

Integration with Microsoft services ensures robust access control and user-friendly deployment.
Developer portal and documentation improve usability and learning.
Hybrid cloud support offers seamless on-premise connectivity.
Scalability and security features are well-regarded.
Centralized API library simplifies management.

What benefits or ROI should users consider?

Facilitates API lifecycle management enhancing user experience.
Simplifies authentication and subscription models.
Enhances data exchange and real-time monitoring.
Streamlines API mapping and orchestration across platforms.
Promotes flexibility and transparency in system integration.

Microsoft Azure API Management aids modernization across healthcare, telecom, and financial services by enabling legacy system updates and facilitating smooth platform orchestration.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

CVS Health Corporation

adnymics GmbH, LG CNS, Centrebet, netfabb GmbH, MedPlast, Accelera Solutions, Sochi Organizing Committee, realzeit GmbH, Opensistemas

Buyer's Guide

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs. Microsoft Azure API Management

September 2025

Free Report: IBM Cloud Pak for Integration vs. Microsoft Azure API Management

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