Layer7 API Management vs Microsoft Azure API Management comparison

Broadcom and Microsoft are both solutions in the API Management category. Broadcom is ranked #11 with an average rating of 7.6, while Microsoft is ranked #1 with an average rating of 7.9. Broadcom holds a 3.0% mindshare in APIM, compared to Microsoft’s 19.4% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Broadcom users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Layer7 API Management

Read 111 Layer7 API Management reviews

4,887 Views
3,641 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Microsoft Azure API Management

Read 80 Microsoft Azure API Management reviews

27,012 Views
22,558 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Layer7 API Management

Microsoft Azure API Management

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

Layer7 API Management and Microsoft Azure API Management compete in the API management category. Layer7 API Management seems to have an upper hand due to its robust security features and protocol translation capabilities, essential for enterprises with legacy integration needs, while Azure excels in integration within its ecosystem, making it favorable for Microsoft-centric environments.

Features: Layer7 API Management offers robust security with features like OAuth and content-based routing. It enables seamless protocol translation, crucial for legacy system integrations. Microsoft Azure API Management is well-integrated within the Azure ecosystem, providing easy setup, multifactor authentication, and Active Directory integration, making it ideal for existing Microsoft environment users.

Room for Improvement: Layer7 API Management needs to improve its developer portal and the overall user experience regarding API documentation and discovery. Microsoft Azure API Management could benefit from a simpler pricing model and better out-of-the-box integration with third-party platforms, alongside enhanced analytics capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Layer7 API Management provides deployment flexibility for on-premises and hybrid cloud setups but has noted initial deployment challenges. Its customer service is generally acceptable, though there could be improvements in response times. Microsoft Azure API Management is optimized for cloud deployment with responsive customer service, although more flexibility in meeting unique customer needs is desired.

Pricing and ROI: Layer7 API Management is cost-effective for large enterprises but potentially expensive for smaller entities due to high-availability setup costs, emphasizing the need for careful pricing negotiations. Microsoft Azure API Management offers competitive entry-level pricing; however, costs rise significantly with premium features and scaling. Both products demonstrate clear ROI, especially with enterprise-centric features, yet budgeting for initial costs and premium tiers require attention.

To learn more, read our detailed Layer7 API Management vs. Microsoft Azure API Management Report (Updated: January 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Layer7 API Management vs. Microsoft Azure API Management

January 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

Layer7 API Management

Ranking in API Management

11th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

111

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Microsoft Azure API Management

Ranking in API Management

1st

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the API Management category, the mindshare of Layer7 API Management is 3.0%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Azure API Management is 19.4%, down from 19.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Management

Featured Reviews

Ronald D'Souza

Presales Consultant for CA Southern Africa at Hyperion Holding Pty Ltd

Has great drag-and-drop features and it requires minimal coding

I have mainly implemented using Layer 7 API Management. Some of the major challenges we were able to meet with a quick release to market methodology. Some of the tasks which we achieved for our customers were: 1. Translation service from SOAP to REST and vice versa. 2. API service to DB (Oracle, MySQL, MSSQL, Snowflake, SAP HANA) -- Created Swagger APIs that were able to perform CRUD operation to the backend API mentioned above and provided routes to query and get data. 3. Integration with Payment gateway service providers to perform (transaction on behalf of the customer with third-party payment gateway service providers white labeled with our APIs ) -- Followed TMF standards for payment gateway integration with the Telcom world. 4. Orchestration of the API. Build multiple microservers and provided orchestration based on route, path, and data in the request and perform actions that would be communicated with multiple APIs and provide a single consolidated response. 5. Provided API-driven security (Oauth 2.0, JWT, SAML, Basic, and a variety of means) to access the API giving the developer the freedom to concentrate only on application/service/microservice and let the gateway handle the threat. 6. Seamless Mutual Authentication allowed good segregation between APIs in the DMZ and internal network.

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Rajiv Bala Balasubramanian

Specialist PCC at Danfoss

Efficiently manages and monetizes API

It is a scalable solution. You can add more computing power to your APM gateway. It also gives you the ability to have VNet integrations with your on-prem. It is one of the leading products in the API management space. It is not just software for users but software to handle requests. For example, for a B2C e-commerce store, all requests that users make from within the store pass through this API gateway. So it is defined by the number of requests to the API gateway, not by the number of actual users who use it. If you look at the number of requests, it would be a lot from all the different systems we have within Pampers.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I appreciate Layer 7 API management for its comprehensive approach to the entire API lifecycle, including governance, management, and analytics."

"Layer7 API Management is most valued for its drag-and-drop functionalities, the available policy options, and the excellent security features."

"It allows us to keep clear traceability of the changes made in each of our APIs."

"Some of the performance matrix that API Gateway gives off, we monitor them via SNMP traps, and then we tie them into our monitoring system. You can actually monitor some of the latencies and some of the performance aspects of both API Gateways, as well back end services. So having that line of sight surely helps in terms DevOps."

"The mobile access gateway (MAG) is tremendous."

"Tech support is fast and responsive."

"The solution fills our two most important concerns in seeking an API solution by providing a reliable gateway and security options."

"Initial setup is straightforward. It is simple and easy to do."

More Layer7 API Management pros

"Most of the features are valuable to me."

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

"Azure API is scalable."

"The analytics phase of API Management is very beneficial for tracking API usage and identifying suspicious users."

"I like that security features can be integrated with API Management. I also like that you can perform rate-limiting and throttling functions."

"It's easy to use compared to other products. It's easy to set up."

"The API management is great."

"The documentation and configuration of APIs."

More Microsoft Azure API Management pros

Cons

"The architecture of the solution does not allow for flexibility in using different components for the gateway architecture."

"Some problems with response time."

"CA double up portal is a pain. It is something that we are struggling with right now."

"Broadcom's technical support team needs improvement."

"The API Development tool can be made more user-friendly by providing folder properties."

"The implementation of CA API Management was complex. It is a complicated solution. You have to know so much IT knowledge to do the implementation."

"There are old algorithms that the tool does not support - and it shouldn't, in my opinion. But sometimes customers need old algorithms, from old use cases and old applications, migrated to the platform. At those times, there are hiccups that happen."

"There is room for improvement in terms of innovation and investment, especially when compared to other leading products in the market."

More Layer7 API Management cons

"Microsoft Azure API Management needs to improve stability."

"The cloud deployment performance could be better."

"There is room for improvement in the user interface and workflow for hosting APIs, especially third-party APIs."

"Documentations for implementing certain product features are very difficult to find"

"Some of the DevOps stuff could be easier to work with. The migration paths are a little complicated, and moving code around could be more seamless. There should be less manual migration when several teams work together to publish code to the DevOps."

"Azure API Management lacks integration capabilities seen in other tools."

"They need to work on the third party integrations."

"The product needs to introduce a developer portal."

More Microsoft Azure API Management cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I do not have experience with the pricing or licensing of the product."

"If you do a TCO of more than five years, then you will see a big jump in costs for some vendors."

"I think it's competitive. It's not that expensive when you compare CA with the Oracle product."

"Keep in mind the non-product licensing, e.g., if you opt not to use the embedded SQL."

"Purchase 4.0 now and wait until they flush out the 4.1 problems."

"Our customers found the product’s cost a little higher. They are looking for open-source solutions."

"It's my manager who takes care of the pricing. But I keep on hearing that it's a little pricey, it's on the higher side. That is what he says."

"This solution is a bit more expensive than competitors."

More Layer7 API Management pricing and cost advice

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

"I would describe the tool's price as being in the mid-range category."

"Since everyone is isocentric here, it is reasonable for me."

"Based on the resources that we are leveraging, the price we are paying to use this solution is slightly higher than other competitors. In a few cases, it has its own advantage in some resources."

"It's an expensive solution"

"The licensing fees are expensive."

"It's pay as you go. The subscription packages have room for different scales. It's calculated by the number of apps or computers you use. You do not have to use the enterprise subscription. These subscriptions have different pricing, so you can find one to meet your needs for scalability."

"It's free for less than ten users. If you want to go beyond that, it's around $3.50 per user per month. If you want a DevOps integration, it's about $7.50 per user per month. Costs depend on the size, complexity, usage, and what facility you want to integrate. So, we use Microsoft Azure and have the entire DevOps and Visual Studio on the cloud. We get all three flavors for $7.50 per user per month."

More Microsoft Azure API Management pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

19%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Layer7 API Management?

The solution's technical support is good.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Layer7 API Management?

The pricing is expensive compared to other products.

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What needs improvement with Layer7 API Management?

Layer7 API Management could be improved in its logging and alert mechanisms. Furthermore, although cloud deployment has been introduced, I am not familiar with all recent updates. In previous versi...

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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

Apigee vs Layer7 API Management

Compared 33% of the time

Kong Gateway Enterprise vs Layer7 API Management

Compared 15% of the time

MuleSoft API Manager vs Layer7 API Management

Compared 14% of the time

Amazon API Gateway vs Layer7 API Management

Compared 11% of the time

TIBCO Cloud API Management vs Layer7 API Management

Compared 5% of the time

More Layer7 API Management Competitors

Amazon API Gateway vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 44% of the time

Apigee vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 23% 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 5% of the time

Axway AMPLIFY API Management vs Microsoft Azure API Management

Compared 1% of the time

More Microsoft Azure API Management Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Layer7 API Management

February 2025

Download Layer7 API Management product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure API Management

February 2025

Download Microsoft Azure API Management product report

Also Known As

CA API Management, CA Live API Creator, Espresso Logic, CA API Gateway

Azure API Management, MS Azure API Management

Overview

Layer7 API Management is a comprehensive solution that enables organizations to securely expose, manage, and monetize their APIs.

It provides features such as API gateway, developer portal, analytics, and security to ensure seamless integration and control over API traffic.

With Layer7 API Management, businesses can streamline their API operations and drive innovation.

Broadcom

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

1. IBM 2. Microsoft 3. Oracle 4. Salesforce 5. SAP 6. Cisco 7. Dell 8. HP 9. Adobe 10. VMware 11. Accenture 12. Capgemini 13. Deloitte 14. PwC 15. Ernst & Young 16. Infosys 17. TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) 18. Wipro 19. Cognizant 20. HCL Technologies 21. Tech Mahindra 22. Fujitsu 23. Hitachi 24. NEC 25. NTT Data 26. Ericsson 27. Nokia 28. Siemens 29. AT&T 30. Verizon 31. Vodafone 32. Orange

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

Buyer's Guide

Layer7 API Management vs. Microsoft Azure API Management

January 2025

Free Report: Layer7 API Management vs. Microsoft Azure API Management

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