AWS API Gateway Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
AWS API Gateway pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $0 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
AWS API Gateway offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- 1 million REST API calls per month
- 1 million HTTP API calls per month
- 1 million WebSocket messages per month
- 750,000 WebSocket connection minutes per month
- Available for 12 months for new AWS customers
- $200 AWS credits for new customers (starting July 2025)
- All standard API Gateway features
- CloudWatch monitoring included
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| duration | 12 months (new customers) | Unlimited/Higher |
| restCalls | 1M per month | Unlimited/Higher |
| httpCalls | 1M per month | Unlimited/Higher |
| websocketMessages | 1M per month | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like advanced automation
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- AWS API Gateway branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is AWS API Gateway free?
Yes, AWS API Gateway offers a freemium plan with 8 core features included. However, there are limits on duration, restcalls that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in AWS API Gateway's free plan?
AWS API Gateway's free plan includes: 1 million REST API calls per month, 1 million HTTP API calls per month, 1 million WebSocket messages per month, 750,000 WebSocket connection minutes per month, Available for 12 months for new AWS customers, and 3 more features. Key limits include duration: 12 months (new customers), restCalls: 1M per month, httpCalls: 1M per month.
03 What's NOT included in AWS API Gateway's free plan?
The free plan excludes: advanced features, premium support, and higher limits. You'll also have AWS API Gateway branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from AWS API Gateway's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like advanced automation, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $0/month.
05 Is AWS API Gateway's free plan really free forever?
Yes, AWS API Gateway's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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