Convex
Kong
| Feature | Convex | Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $25/mo | Free / from $0.05/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | full-stack-developers, real-time-apps, startups, rapid-prototyping | platform-engineers, microservices-teams, api-gateway-users, devops-teams |
| Founded | 2021 | 2010 |
| Real Time Database | ✓ | ✗ |
| Serverless Functions | ✓ | ✗ |
| File Storage | ✓ | ✗ |
| Authentication | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vector Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api Gateway | ✗ | ✓ |
| Service Mesh | ✗ | ✓ |
| Load Balancing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rate Limiting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plugins | ✗ | ✓ |
| Observability | ✗ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes Ingress | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Convex Pros
- Real-time by default
- TypeScript-first
- Built-in auth and file storage
- Automatic caching
✗ Convex Cons
- Vendor lock-in
- Newer platform
- Limited to Convex runtime
✓ Kong Pros
- Open-source core with large plugin ecosystem
- Sub-millisecond latency for API requests
- Platform-agnostic deployment (cloud, on-prem, hybrid)
- Strong Kubernetes-native support
✗ Kong Cons
- Enterprise features require paid license
- Configuration complexity for advanced setups
- Documentation could be more beginner-friendly
The Verdict
Convex is built for full stack developers and real time apps, with a focus on real-time-database and serverless-functions. Kong targets platform engineers and microservices teams and leads with api-gateway and service-mesh.
On pricing, Kong is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0.05/mo compared to $25/mo for Convex. That $24.95/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Kong offers broader built-in capabilities (8 features vs 6), while Convex takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.