API security platforms · November 2026 Edition
Akamai API Security vs Kong Gateway
One of fourteen models named Akamai API Security first on the direct prompt; zero named Kong Gateway. Akamai API Security was named by fourteen of the fourteen models and Kong Gateway by nine and Akamai API Security carries 51 labels and Kong Gateway 16, so the shares are not directly comparable.
Named in one category this edition.
Named in three categories this edition.
First-choice share4%4%Of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts, 0 to 100.
Negative rate22%12%Negative labels as a share of the product's labels, 0 to 100.
Rank in category#6#8A position in a field of 15; printed, not drawn.
Labels5116A count; the two differ.
The two percentage rows are drawn on one 0 to 100 track, Akamai API Security reading right to left. Rank and label count are printed, not drawn.Salt Security was named alongside these two in eight of the fourteen direct answers. Salt Security vs Akamai API Security · Salt Security vs Kong Gateway · Zuplo vs Akamai API Security
Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all fourteen models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category; every quote names the model and the prompt it came from. Both figures come from the API security platforms page.
By framing
How many of the fourteen models made each the first choice, per way of asking, and how many argued against it.
Akamai API SecurityFirst choices, of fourteen modelsKong Gateway
Direct103 against Akamai API Security
Paraphrase10
Comparative10
Budget-constrained023 against Akamai API Security
Scale-constrained00
Negative005 against Akamai API Security · 2 against Kong Gateway
Bars are first choices, 0 to 14 each sideModels that argued againstA model can name both, so the two sides of a row do not sum to fourteen.
Every model, every framing
The eighty-four answers behind the chart above, one cell each: where Akamai API Security and Kong Gateway stood in it.
| Model | Direct | Paraphrase | Comparative | Budget-constrained | Scale-constrained | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | | | ||||
| GPT-5.4 mini | | | | |||
| Gemini 3.5 Flash | | |||||
| Perplexity Sonar | | | | | | |
| Grok 4.20 | | | | | ||
| Mistral Small | | | | |||
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | | | | | | |
| Llama 4 Maverick | ||||||
| Qwen 3.7 Flash | | | | | ||
| Kimi K2 | | | | | | |
| GLM 4.7 FlashX | | | | |||
| MiniMax M2.5 | | | | | ||
| GPT-6 Luna | | | ||||
| Muse Glimmer 30B | | | |
Akamai API Security Kong Gateway first choice named as an alternative argued againstblank: not namedEach cell is one answer, Akamai API Security on the left and Kong Gateway on the right.The direct prompt
The plain question, one answer per model, grouped by where Akamai API Security and Kong Gateway stood in it.
Akamai API Security first, Kong Gateway not the choice
1 of 14 modelsKong Gateway was named in the answer but not as the choice, or not at all.GPT-5.4 miniAkamai API Security alternatives: 42Crunch, Akto, Imperva API Security, Salt Security, Traceable API Security Platform, Wallarm API Security
Neither was the first choice, one was named
5 of 14 modelsThe answer put something else first and named one of the two as an alternative.Mistral SmallGravitee, Zuplo alternatives: Graylog, Kong Gateway
DeepSeek V4 FlashWallarm API Security alternatives: 42Crunch, Akamai API Security, Cequence Unified API Protection, Cloudflare API Shield, Traceable API Security Platform
GLM 4.7 FlashXZuplo alternatives: Akamai API Security, Cequence Unified API Protection
GPT-6 LunaWallarm API Security alternatives: Akamai API Security, Cloudflare API Shield, Salt Security
Muse Glimmer 30BZuplo alternatives: 42Crunch, Akamai API Security, Cloudflare Application Security and Performance, Imperva Application Security Platform, Salt Security
Neither was named
8 of 14 modelsThe answer made no first choice from these two in this category.Claude Haiku 4.5Orca Security alternatives: Check Point CloudGuard WAF, Cloudflare API Shield, Imperva API Security, Invicti API Security, Salt Security, Traceable API Security Platform
Gemini 3.5 FlashWallarm API Security alternatives: 42Crunch, Cloudflare API Shield, Salt Security, Traceable API Security Platform
Perplexity SonarCloudflare API Shield alternatives: 42Crunch, Traceable API Security Platform
Grok 4.20Salt Security alternatives: Cequence Unified API Protection, Cloudflare API Shield, Fastly, Traceable API Security Platform, Wallarm API Security
Llama 4 MaverickWallarm API Security alternatives: Aikido Security, Gravitee, OWASP ZAP, Zuplo
Qwen 3.7 Flash42Crunch, Zuplo alternatives: Aikido Security, Salt Security
Kimi K2Levo.ai alternatives: 42Crunch, StackHawk, Wallarm API Security
MiniMax M2.5Salt Security alternatives: Cequence Unified API Protection, Imperva API Security, Noname Security, Traceable API Security Platform
Bold names in an answer are the products the judge labeled a first choice; a model naming several gives each of them that label. The full answer text for every row is in the record.
By buyer segment
The same question asked on behalf of a different buyer. Each standing is computed within its segment and they are never added together. The figures above are the mid-market standing, which is the one the category orders by.
Small business
Kong Gateway leads by two points.
Kong Gateway2%#– of 13Akamai API Security0%#12 of 13Mid-marketThe figures above
Level: the same share of first choices.
Akamai API Security4%#6 of 15Kong Gateway4%#8 of 15Enterprise
The order flips: Akamai API Security leads at enterprise.
Akamai API Security19%#2 of 13Kong Gateway2%#10 of 13What the models said about Akamai API Security
Every negative label with a quote, up to three, then the highest-weighted positives, up to three. Six of eight in this category shown.
“Bundled WAAP complexity; overkill for mid-market” Kimi K2 · direct prompt · hard negative
“Bundled WAAP/WAF offerings: Akamai, Imperva, F5... verify that the API module provides genuine API inventory, behavioral detection” Perplexity Sonar · negative prompt · soft negative
“G2 and other reviews mention a steep learning curve, slow performance with large datasets, and challenges in intuitive UI/handling” Grok 4.20 · negative prompt · soft negative
“End-to-end platform; excellent for large enterprises with distributed APIs; combines discovery with runtime protection.” Grok 4.20 · comparative prompt · first choice
“My default pick for most mid-market B2B companies: Akamai API Security” GPT-5.4 mini · direct prompt · first choice
“Best overall default: Akamai API Security” GPT-5.4 mini · paraphrase prompt · first choice
What the models said about Kong Gateway
No label in this category carried a quote.
Also compared
Salt Security vs Akamai API SecuritySalt Security vs Kong GatewayZuplo vs Akamai API SecurityZuplo vs Kong GatewayWallarm API Security vs Akamai API SecurityWallarm API Security vs Kong GatewayCloudflare API Shield vs Akamai API SecurityCloudflare API Shield vs Kong GatewayOWASP ZAP vs Akamai API SecurityOWASP ZAP vs Kong GatewayAkamai API Security vs Traceable API Security PlatformTraceable API Security Platform vs Kong GatewayAll twenty-eight head-to-head pages and the full API security standing
Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category, each against each. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.