What's the difference between API Gateway and ESB?

API Gateway is a self-service platform for publishing and managing APIs. Any development team can create and publish its own APIs through the API Gateway without involving a separate integration team. The team publishing the API is fully responsible for the API, including its implementation, documentation, maintenance, security, lifecycle management, and support. API Gateway focuses on exposing, securing, monitoring, and controlling access to APIs.

ESB (Enterprise Service Bus) is a centrally managed integration platform used for connecting systems, transforming messages, routing data, and orchestrating integrations between applications. Our ESB is based on Apache Camel, and integrations are designed, implemented, and maintained by the integration team rather than individual development teams.

In short: API Gateway enables teams to publish and manage their own APIs and take full ownership of them, whereas ESB provides centrally managed system integrations implemented and maintained by the integration team. 

How to choose the right platform, read here

If you need ESB integrations, contact tike-integraatiot@helsinki.fi