# CLI2API vs Kong Gateway

> Two self-hosted [API Gateway projects](https://selfhost.directory/api-gateway), compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | CLI2API | Kong Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 45/100 | 82/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #25 of 39 in API Gateway | #1 of 39 in API Gateway |
| GitHub stars | 283 | 44 317 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | — | +131 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 14 ✓ | 3 |
| Latest release | v0.7.20 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | 3.9.4 · 12 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Go | Lua |

## Which one should you pick?

Kong Gateway scores 82/100 against 45/100 for CLI2API, so it is the safer default.

CLI2API ships more often: 14 stable releases in the past year, against 3 for Kong Gateway.

Kong Gateway is growing faster right now (+131 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [CLI2API](https://selfhost.directory/project/cli2api) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/cli2api.md)
- [Kong Gateway](https://selfhost.directory/project/kong-gateway) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/kong-gateway.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/cli2api-vs-kong-gateway