# Argo CD vs Kong

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | Argo CD | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 81/100 | 81/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 28 in CI/CD | #1 of 19 in API Management |
| GitHub stars | 24 498 | 44 317 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +273 ✓ | +131 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 30 ✓ | 3 |
| Latest release | v3.3.18 · 22 Oct 2026 ✓ | 3.9.4 · 12 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Go | Lua |

## Which one should you pick?

Argo CD and Kong score the same (81/100), so the choice comes down to the details below.

Argo CD ships more often: 30 stable releases in the past year, against 3 for Kong.

If you want the quickest setup, Argo CD is easier to run; Kong needs more configuration.

Argo CD is growing faster right now (+273 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Argo CD](https://selfhost.directory/project/argo-cd) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/argo-cd.md)
- [Kong](https://selfhost.directory/project/kong) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/kong.md)

## Related comparisons

- [Kong vs Traefik](https://selfhost.directory/compare/kong-vs-traefik)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/argo-cd-vs-kong