Best API Architecture - REST HTTP RPC in 2025
In the increasingly interconnected digital landscape, robust and efficient API (Application Programming Interface) architecture is critical for success. Whether building microservices, integrating third-party services, or exposing data to mobile applications, the design and implementation of your APIs directly impact performance, scalability, security, and developer experience. This buying guide will examine leading API architecture approaches, focusing on REST, HTTP, and RPC, offering detailed analysis to empower you in making informed decisions.
API architectures facilitate communication between different software systems. REST (Representational State Transfer) has become the standard for building web APIs. RESTful APIs use HTTP methods creatively and often communicate with JSON. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) specifies how messages are formatted and transmitted over the Internet and is fundamental for REST. RPC (Remote Procedure Call) is another approach for structuring distributed applications where one program can ask another program to execute a procedure. Choosing the appropriate architecture requires careful consideration of scalability, performance, security, and team expertise. Understanding these trade-offs is key to building resilient and scalable APIs.
What's In This Guide
- •Our Selection Methodology
- •Selection Criteria
- •Kong Gateway - Best Overall - Open-Source API Gateway
- •Apigee (Google Cloud) - Best for Enterprise-Level API Management
- •Azure API Management - Best for Azure Ecosystem
- •Tyk - Best for Developer Experience
- •WSO2 API Manager - Best for Comprehensive Management and Open Source
- •Conclusion & Recommendations
- •Frequently Asked Questions
Our Selection Methodology
Our selection process leverages a multi-faceted approach that combines comprehensive data analysis with practical application. First, we collected data from several sources including expert reviews, user feedback from technology forums and review sites (e.g., G2, Gartner Peer Insights), technical documentation, and performance benchmarks from independent testing labs. Advanced AI algorithms were used to process and analyze this data, identifying key features and weighing them based on our defined selection criteria. We prioritized the frequency and sentiment of user feedback as well as the consensus of expert reviews. Performance criteria were evaluated using metrics such as throughput, latency, and resource utilization, obtained from lab tests and publicly available benchmarks where possible. Security assessments incorporated recognized industry standards. The AI algorithms then produced rankings for all options, that were then curated and refined by human experts to balance quantitative and qualitative data to produce our final recommendations.
Selection Criteria
Performance
Evaluates the speed, efficiency, and ability of the API architecture to handle high traffic and low latency. Includes benchmarks for request processing, throughput, and resource utilization.
Security
Assesses the security features, including authentication, authorization, encryption, and protection against common API vulnerabilities such as injection attacks, denial of service attacks, and man-in-the-middle attacks.
Scalability
Measures the ability of the architecture to scale horizontally and vertically to accommodate increasing loads and evolving business needs. Evaluating the ease of adding and removing resources and the support for technologies like load balancing and caching.
Usability and Developer Experience
Focuses on the ease of use for developers, including clear documentation, intuitive APIs, SDKs, and support for common tools and frameworks. Also considers features such as API versioning, change management, and developer portals.
Cost and Licensing
Analyzes the total cost of ownership, including licensing fees, infrastructure costs, and operational expenses. Considers pricing models (e.g., per-request, per-user, subscription) and the availability of free or open-source options.
Integration Capabilities
Examines the ability to integrate with various backend systems, databases, and third-party services. Assesses the support for different protocols, data formats, and integration patterns, such as message queues and event-driven architectures.
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Top 5 API Architecture - REST HTTP RPC in 2025
Pros
- Highly performant and scalable
- Extensive plugin ecosystem for customization
- Supports both REST and RPC
- Open-source and commercial options available
- Comprehensive API management features
Cons
- Can require significant configuration and management for complex deployments
- Steeper learning curve compared to some SaaS API gateway options
Key Specifications
Kong Gateway is a leading open-source API gateway known for its flexibility, performance, and extensibility. It provides a powerful platform for managing APIs with advanced features such as authentication, authorization, rate limiting, and request transformation. Its plugin architecture allows for seamless integration with various third-party services and systems. Kong Gateway excels in high-traffic environments and offers excellent performance and scalability, making it suitable for large enterprises and cloud-native applications. It supports both REST and RPC styles. The API gateway implementation offers robust security features and a vibrant community that offers support and contributes plugins.
Pros
- Comprehensive API management capabilities
- Strong security features and analytics
- Excellent for monetizing APIs
- Seamless integration with GCP
Cons
- Can be expensive for large-scale deployments
- Vendor lock-in with Google Cloud Platform
Key Specifications
Google Apigee is a robust and comprehensive API management platform, well-suited for enterprise-level deployments. It offers sophisticated features for creating, securing, and managing APIs, with strong emphasis on analytics and monetization. Apigee's integration with Google Cloud Platform provides a seamless experience for cloud-based deployments. It supports REST architecture extremely well and includes a rich set of tools for API design, testing, and monitoring. It excels in security and is often used for creating secure APIs, with full API lifecycle management. Apigee is a solid choice for companies concerned about security.
Azure API Management
Best for Azure Ecosystem
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/api-management/Pros
- Seamless integration with the Azure ecosystem
- Easy to set up and manage
- Comprehensive API management features
- Good security features
Cons
- Limited features compared to Kong and Apigee
- Primarily focused on the Azure ecosystem
Key Specifications
Azure API Management is a fully managed service within Microsoft Azure, providing a comprehensive solution for publishing, securing, and managing APIs. It offers features such as API gateway functionality, developer portal, and analytics. It is designed to work well with other Azure services. It supports REST APIs and offers a user-friendly interface and is especially well-suited for organizations heavily invested in the Microsoft Azure ecosystem. The API gateway handles authentication, authorization, and rate limiting.
Pros
- Simple setup and good developer experience
- Excellent performance
- Supports various API types (primarily REST)
- Offers open-source and commercial options
Cons
- Less mature community and ecosystem compared to Kong and Apigee
- Can be complex to set up and configure in larger organizations
- Requires commercial licensing for clustering and advanced features
Key Specifications
Tyk is a flexible and performant API gateway, known for its ease of use and focus on developer experience. It supports REST and gRPC, offering features such as authentication, authorization, rate limiting, and request transformation. Tyk offers both open-source and commercial versions, providing a balance of features and affordability. Tyk's architecture is built for high performance, and it is designed to be easily deployed and managed, making it an excellent choice for organizations that want a simpler, more flexible solution. Tyk is popular in microservices environments.
Pros
- Comprehensive API management capabilities
- Supports a wide variety of API types
- Strong focus on security
- Open-source and commercial options
Cons
- The commercial version is required for many production features.
- Documentation can be difficult to navigate for specific use cases.
Key Specifications
WSO2 API Manager is a comprehensive open-source-based API management platform suitable for creating, managing, and securing APIs. It supports REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs, providing a range of features including API lifecycle management, security, and analytics. It is built for enterprise environments, offering strong support for large organizations and complex deployments. WSO2 provides a complete architectural support for API management including API gateway, API publisher, and API developer portal. It also offers features for API monetization and integration.
Conclusion
Based on our detailed analysis, Kong Gateway emerges as the leading solution for API architecture, offering a robust and versatile platform that excels in performance, security, and scalability. For businesses seeking a balance of cost-effectiveness and comprehensive features, Apigee is a strong contender. The choice between these top recommendations depends largely on specific needs and budget constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between REST, HTTP, and RPC?
REST (Representational State Transfer), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), and RPC (Remote Procedure Call) are all approaches for designing and implementing APIs. REST is an architectural style that uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to interact with resources. HTTP is the underlying protocol for communication, and RPC is a protocol for executing procedures on a remote server. Microservices architectures often use a combination of REST, HTTP, and RPC.
What does an API gateway do?
API gateways act as a central point for managing and securing APIs. They handle tasks such as authentication, authorization, rate limiting, traffic management, and request routing, providing a layer of abstraction between clients and backend services. They are critical for managing the complexity of microservices environments and providing consistent API management.
How do I choose the right API architecture?
Key considerations include the desired level of scalability, the complexity of your API infrastructure, security requirements, budget limitations, and the level of existing expertise within your team. Open-source solutions generally offer greater flexibility and customization but may require more technical resources for implementation and maintenance. Cloud-based or SaaS solutions often provide managed services, simplifying infrastructure management but potentially imposing vendor lock-in.