Blobr vs Tyk

The open-source solution to manage APIs provided by Tyk is just a part of what they offer. Managing, sharing APIs is, for them, a two sided activity. But how does it compares with Blobr’s unified experience?
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Overview

What does Blobr do?

Blobr is a no-code SaaS to create your API developer portal. API providers can manage, document, distribute and monetize API products from one place on their terms. Each portal is unique and each API provider has its own. They can add their branding and integrate the portal to their own environment. Blobr has been made so that both technical and non-technical profiles can succeed.

What does Tyk do?

Tyk is an API management platform that offers a set of tools to understand and manage its API catalog: an API gateway, analytics, and a developer portal. An open-source option will provide an API gateway, while the self-managed and cloud-based options will offer more options, including the developer portal. Tyk is primarily designed to be used by developers and technical profiles.

Blobr’s API Portal

See Blobr's API Portal as your own API marketplace. From your website, you define how public you want your API Portal to be. As Blobr handles user management, you can thoroughly define who accesses what among your customers. Your products are displayed in tiles, each with a brief description of what it does. Each has a custom API documentation that helps your API consumers navigate between the selected endpoints. Subscriptions and billing are handled directly on the platform.

Tyk API Management and Developer Portal

Tyk provides a two-part product: the API management side allows the API provider to manage access, monitor errors, calls, usage and uptime. The developer portal side displays a customized space to show and share APIs. Monetization is possible through a third-party application but each new element must be coded. API documentation can be added and is displayed with a Swagger integration. The developer portal can use Tyk's template, be modified without code or with CSS.

Comparaison table

Pricing
Starts for free (up to 25 millions calls/ month) with a 10% commission on monetized APIs. The commission decreases as the number of calls increases.
Free open source option, with functionality limited to API management. 5 weeks trial period, first plan at $600/month for the full cloud-based package with 10 millions calls/ month.
Branding
Branded API portal with personalizable logo, colors, custom domain name (API and API Portal) and SSO.
Possibility to build a fully customized developer portal, with CSS.
Template available to make one quickly.
API Display & Monetization
APIs are productized on a customized portal, displayed on the API Provider’s terms.
They can be shared for free or monetized - with the Stripe integration - at the provider’s will.
Poorly designed API documentation. Monetization is possible using a third-party application, a specific integration and development work.
API Documentation
API versioning is handled on a product level. API Consumers get personalized changelogs. Product-based documentation and “Try out” option.
Documentation with Swagger integration. Displayed in its entirety.
API Consumer Relationship
Chat integration on the API Portal. Direct access to the customers by email.
Contact possible by email.
Pricing
Subscription-based models.Starts for free (up to 5,000 calls) with a 10% commission on monetized APIs. The commission decreases as the number of calls increases.
Branding
Branded API portal with personalizable logo, colors, custom domain name (API and API Portal) and SSO.
API Display & Monetization
APIs are productized on a customized portal, displayed on the API Provider’s terms.
They can be shared for free or monetized - with the Stripe integration - at the provider’s will.
API Documentation
API versioning is handled on a product level. API Consumers get personalized changelogs. Product-based documentation and “Try out” option.
API Consumer Relationship
Chat integration on the API Portal. Direct access to the customers by email.

Blobr’s advantage:
An affordable solution for sharing APIs quickly

While the open-source solution is a good option for any developer who wants an API gateway for their own operation, when it comes to sharing APIs with API consumers, Tyk is blocked by some limitations. Users generally consider the price, sometimes unclear user interface, and limited documentation as the main pain points:
- Besides templates, the developer portal can only be customized using CSS, which adds cost to its implementation;
- APIs cannot be presented as products, use cases can only be indications made by the API provider;
- The documentation mainly takes the form of the Swagger standard.;
- Monetization is done only through a third-party application, designed for developers.

Blobr provides a unified experience to distribute and sell APIs on your terms.

We've taken a different approach by combining API management and the API portal: you can track and manage usage and users, create products from your APIs, and display documentation accordingly. Blobr's white label developer portal is free and can be configured in minutes through a code-free interface. Your logo, color and domain name make it an integral part of your website:
- No-code and intuitive interface to connect your API in minutes;
- Product approach to stick to your user’s use-cases;
- Documentation in the form of product-based workflows, to highlight only what is needed, with API consumers who can test the endpoints;
- An "API consumer first" approach to optimize adoption and time to first call;
- The API monetization option is available with a few clicks, with different business models supported.

Build your API portal with Blobr

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