Docker vs Kong
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and integrations.
Quick Verdict
Docker offers fewer features (55 vs 59) and fewer integrations (7 vs 8). Starting price: Docker at $11/mo vs Kong at $12/mo. Docker has 55 unique features while Kong has 59 unique features, with 0 features in common.
| Docker | Kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | DevOps | DevOps |
| Total Features | 55 | 59 |
| AI-Powered Features | 2 | 4 |
| Starting Price | $11/mo | $12/mo |
| Pricing Tiers | 6 | 6 |
| Integrations | 7 | 8 |
| Shared Features | 0 | |
| Shared Integrations | 1 | |
| Data Quality | 90% | 90% |
Feature Comparison by Category
AI (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Docker MCP Integration | ||
| MCP Server Library |
AI Connectivity (0 vs 3)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| AI Gateway | ||
| AI Gateway Paid Plugins | ||
| MCP Gateway |
API Discovery (0 vs 2)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Developer Portal | ||
| Service Catalog |
API Governance (0 vs 5)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Groups | ||
| Federated API Management | ||
| Plugin Ordering | ||
| Request Validation | ||
| Workspaces |
API Testing (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Insomnia |
Admin (8 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Account Hierarchy | ||
| Bulk User Management | ||
| Docker Hub Organizations | ||
| Organization Access Tokens | ||
| Role-Based Access Control | ||
| SCIM User Provisioning | ||
| Settings Management | ||
| Single Sign-On (SSO) |
Automation (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Event Hooks |
Build Tools (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Build | ||
| Docker Build Cloud |
Compliance (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| FIPS/STIG Variants | ||
| Policy Library and Evaluation |
Container Images (3 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Distroless Images | ||
| Docker Hardened Images (DHI) | ||
| Image Mirroring and Customization |
Core Gateway (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| API Gateway |
Data Processing (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Data Transformation |
Deployment (0 vs 5)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Cloud Gateway | ||
| Hybrid Gateway | ||
| Kubernetes Ingress Controller | ||
| Multi-Cloud Deployment | ||
| Serverless Gateway |
DevOps (0 vs 3)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| CI/CD Integration | ||
| Declarative Configuration | ||
| Git Sync |
Development Tools (7 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| API Design & Testing | ||
| Containerd Support | ||
| Docker CLI | ||
| Docker Debug | ||
| Docker Desktop | ||
| Docker Engine | ||
| Synchronized File Shares | ||
| Volume Exports |
Enterprise (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| MSI Installer | ||
| VDI Support |
Event Streaming (0 vs 2)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Event Gateway | ||
| Kafka Integration |
Extensibility (2 vs 2)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Desktop Extensions | ||
| Plugin Development Kit | ||
| Plugin System | ||
| Private Extensions Marketplace |
Integrations (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| SDLC Integrations | ||
| Webhook Support |
Management (0 vs 2)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Admin GUI | ||
| Kong Manager |
Monetization (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Metering & Billing |
Monitoring & Analytics (0 vs 3)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| API Analytics | ||
| Observability | ||
| OpenTelemetry Support |
Orchestration (3 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Compose | ||
| Helm Chart Support | ||
| Kubernetes Support |
Protocol Support (0 vs 2)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| GraphQL Support | ||
| Multi-Protocol Support |
Registry (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Hub | ||
| Trusted Content Catalog |
Reliability (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Data Plane Resilience |
Reporting (3 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Audit | ||
| Usage Insight Dashboard | ||
| Vulnerability Reporting |
Security (14 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Audit Logs | ||
| CVE Remediation SLA | ||
| CVE Suppression and Exception | ||
| Docker Scout | ||
| Enhanced Container Isolation | ||
| Hardened Docker Desktop | ||
| Image Access Management | ||
| Image Remediation | ||
| Local Vulnerability Analysis | ||
| Registry Access Management | ||
| SBOM Generation | ||
| SLSA Level 3 Provenance | ||
| VEX Support | ||
| Vulnerability Alerting and Notifications |
Security & Compliance (0 vs 16)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| ACME Certificate Management | ||
| API Security Shift Left | ||
| Advanced Authentication | ||
| Advanced Authorization (OPA) | ||
| Audit Logging | ||
| Basic Authentication | ||
| Bot Detection & CORS Controls | ||
| Domain Capture and Control | ||
| End-to-End Encryption | ||
| FIPS 140-2 Compliance | ||
| Native Vault Integration | ||
| Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) | ||
| SCIM Integration | ||
| SSO (SAML/OIDC) | ||
| Secret Management Integration |
Support (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS) | ||
| Premium Support and TAM |
Testing (1 vs 3)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Mocking | ||
| Inso CLI | ||
| Mock Server Requests | ||
| Testcontainers Cloud |
Traffic Management (0 vs 4)
| Feature | Docker | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Rate Limiting | ||
| Caching | ||
| Rate Limiting | ||
| Routing Engine |
Unique Features
Only in Docker (55)
Account Hierarchy
Bulk User Management
Docker Hub Organizations
Organization Access Tokens
Role-Based Access Control
SCIM User Provisioning
Settings Management
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Docker MCP Integration
MCP Server Library
Docker Build
Docker Build Cloud
FIPS/STIG Variants
Policy Library and Evaluation
Distroless Images
Docker Hardened Images (DHI)
Image Mirroring and Customization
Containerd Support
Docker CLI
Docker Debug
+ 35 more unique features
Only in Kong (59)
AI Gateway
AI Gateway Paid Plugins
MCP Gateway
Developer Portal
Service Catalog
Consumer Groups
Federated API Management
Plugin Ordering
Request Validation
Workspaces
Insomnia
Gateway Event Hooks
API Gateway
Data Transformation
Dedicated Cloud Gateway
Hybrid Gateway
Kubernetes Ingress Controller
Multi-Cloud Deployment
Serverless Gateway
API Design & Testing
+ 39 more unique features
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