# Kong vs Workout.cool

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

| | Kong | Workout.cool |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 81/100 ✓ | 66/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 19 in API Management | #2 of 11 in Fitness Tracker |
| GitHub stars | 44 323 ✓ | 8 654 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +132 | +155 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 3 ✓ | 1 |
| Latest release | 3.9.4 · 12 Oct 2026 ✓ | v1.3.2 · 7 Dec 2025 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Lua | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Kong scores 81/100 against 66/100 for Workout.cool, so it is the safer default.

Kong ships more often: 3 stable releases in the past year, against 1 for Workout.cool.

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

## Details

- [Kong](https://selfhost.directory/project/kong) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/kong.md)
- [Workout.cool](https://selfhost.directory/project/workout-cool) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/workout-cool.md)

## Related comparisons

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

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/kong-vs-workout-cool