Editorial take
Why it stands out
Unkey should be framed as product-ready API access infrastructure, not only as a small auth utility.
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Tool profile
Developer platform for API keys, rate limiting, usage analytics, and API monetization with simple request-based pricing and strong edge-friendly positioning.
API key management
Unkey belongs in the database because it solves a practical developer-infrastructure problem that shows up quickly in real products: how to issue API keys, protect endpoints, rate limit usage, and meter access without stitching together several separate systems. The official site positions Unkey as the developer platform for modern APIs, covering API keys, rate limiting, usage analytics, monetization, audit logs, and security controls. That makes it more useful than a narrow key store or rate-limiter utility when teams are turning an internal API into a real product.
It also deserves inclusion because the pricing is much more transparent than many newer developer infrastructure products. The official pricing surfaces show a Free tier at $0 with 150k valid requests per month and a Pro tier at $25 per month, with enterprise pricing handled separately. Just as important, Unkey explicitly explains what counts as a billable valid request and states that it does not automatically charge surprise overages. That kind of clarity fits the premium standard this database should keep.
Quick fit
Editorial take
Unkey should be framed as product-ready API access infrastructure, not only as a small auth utility.
What it does well
Primary use cases
Fit notes
Compare with
Pressure-test this pick against nearby alternatives.
Apache Kafka
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Choose Kafka when replayable event streams and ecosystem breadth matter more than the lightest possible operational footprint.
Pricing snapshot
Unkey currently offers a Free tier at $0/month and a Pro tier at $25/month, with enterprise pricing custom. The official pricing page centers on valid billable requests rather than complex multi-metric packaging.
Arcjet
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Closer to application-runtime security and abuse-prevention tooling than to classic perimeter appliances.
