Runbeam vs AWS API Gateway
Comparing a managed cloud API gateway with Runbeam's distributed proxy architecture for secure data exchange
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Runbeam | AWS API Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Hybrid and behind-the-firewall integrations | AWS-hosted API front doors |
| Architecture | Distributed proxies + centralised orchestration | Managed gateway service (AWS-centric) |
| Deployment model | Runs where your data lives | Managed service in AWS |
| Healthcare protocols | ✓ FHIR, DICOM (HL7 v2 coming soon) | Possible, but typically implemented in backend services |
| Protocol transforms | ✓ Native (e.g. FHIR ↔ DICOM) | Requires Lambda functions |
| Cross-site connectivity | ✓ JWT-based Data Mesh authentication | Typically handled via networking and identity controls |
| Federated data meshes | ✓ Supported | Not supported |
| HTTP/3 (QUIC) | ✓ Supported (HTTP/3 + TLS 1.3) | Varies by endpoint type and deployment |
| Cloud-native integrations | Not a cloud-specific service | Strong within AWS ecosystem |
| API management features | Gateway and pipeline operations focus | Managed gateway features (varies) |
Choose Runbeam For
Behind-the-firewall deployments
Run your integration gateway inside private networks and keep data movement under local control.
- Deploy behind customer firewalls
- Support hybrid and multi-environment topologies
- Avoid centralising sensitive traffic
Federated Data Mesh connectivity
Connect organisations and environments using authenticated ingress/egress policies.
- JWT-based mutual authentication
- Federated topologies for partners
- Connectivity defined as configuration
Choose AWS API Gateway For
AWS-first API exposure
If your APIs are primarily hosted in AWS and you want a managed gateway at the edge.
- Managed service operations
- Deep AWS integration (service-dependent)
- Common pattern for public API front doors
Use Case Comparison
Hybrid healthcare integration
An organisation needs to connect on-prem clinical systems to cloud services while keeping ingress/egress tightly controlled.
Deploy local proxies near clinical systems, define routing and policy as configuration, and connect environments with Data Mesh authentication.
Expose APIs through a managed gateway, while hybrid connectivity and healthcare protocol handling is typically implemented in supporting services.
Pricing Comparison
Runbeam
- Gateway runs in your infrastructure
- Commercial options for orchestration and management
AWS API Gateway
- Costs typically scale with request volume and features
- Additional costs may apply for supporting services and networking
AWS API Gateway is a managed cloud gateway; Runbeam is designed for distributed, behind-the-firewall data exchange with federated connectivity.
Need hybrid connectivity and policy control?
Runbeam is designed for secure data exchange across environments without relying on broad network connectivity.