SoftDesk
Unkey logo
API Management

Unkey

Add API keys, rate limits and usage controls to your existing backend

82.0
WebsiteListed 2026

About

Unkey provides API-key management, rate limiting and usage quotas for applications hosted anywhere. Developers issue keys to customers and verify incoming requests against configured expiration dates, credits and permissions. Shared identities let a customer’s keys use common limits, while analytics help teams investigate verification and rate-limit activity. The platform also offers a separate Compute product for deploying applications from GitHub or container images. Teams can use API Management on its own, retaining their current hosting, or combine both products for deployment and gateway controls in one service.

Editor's note

Unkey is well suited to a team that needs customer API access without building a key-management service internally. The separation from Compute makes adoption less disruptive. Pay attention to request allowances and log retention: the free tier keeps request logs for one day, and the entry Pro tier extends that to seven.

Key features

  • API-key creation, verification and revocation
  • Key expiration and refillable usage credits
  • Per-key and shared rate limits
  • Roles and permission-based authorization
  • SQL queries over verification and rate-limit analytics
  • Separate container deployment with previews and rollback

Pricing

API Management has a free plan with 150,000 valid requests monthly. Pro starts at $25/month for 250,000 valid requests; higher allowances and Enterprise terms are available. Compute is billed separately and is not required for API Management.

API Management Free

$0 / per month

  • 1,000 API keys
  • 150,000 valid monthly requests
  • Unlimited APIs
  • One-day request logs; three-day audit logs

API Management Pro

From $25 / per month

  • 1 million API keys
  • 250,000 valid requests at entry tier
  • Team members
  • Seven-day request logs; 14-day audit logs

API Management Enterprise

Custom / contact sales

  • Custom quotas
  • IP whitelisting
  • Dedicated Slack channel
  • Tailored commercial terms

Frequently asked

Must I host my application on Unkey?
No. API Management works with an application on your existing host. Compute is optional and billed separately.
Can I bring existing API keys?
Unkey documents importing existing key hashes, allowing migration without automatically replacing every customer’s key.
Does Unkey support quotas as well as rate limits?
Yes. Rate limits control request frequency, while credits can meter a key’s total usage and refill on a schedule.

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API Management

Individual plan at $20/month or $204/year (save 15%). Teams plan with custom pricing. 7-day free trial available.