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Google Cloud Endpoints

cloud.google.com

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Spec score 8.4 #4 of 29 in API Gateway Software

What it is

Google Cloud Endpoints manages APIs with tools for securing access, monitoring activity, analyzing usage, and setting quotas. It supports API descriptions written in OpenAPI 2.0 or 3.x, as well as gRPC, and provides management through ESP or ESPv2. Documented deployment backends include Google Kubernetes Engine, Compute Engine, Kubernetes, App Engine, Cloud Run, Cloud Run functions, and Knative serving; proxy availability varies by backend. Endpoints is optimized for Docker and can host an API wherever Docker runs, provided it has internet access to Google Cloud. API keys can be required and validated to identify a Google Cloud project for quotas, billing, and monitoring. Documented user authentication options include Firebase Authentication and Auth0, using JWT validation by ESP. Logs and metrics are viewable in the Google Cloud console. Pricing depends on API calls and Service Control calls: the Free usage tier is free for 1,999,999 calls; Standard is $3 a month for 2,000,000 to 1,000,000,000; and High-volume is $1.50 a month for 1,000,000,000 and above. Listed rates are per million API calls.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Cloud Endpoints is an API management system for securing, monitoring, analyzing, and setting quotas on APIs.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
API access
Endpoints can require and validate API keys, and API keys identify a Google Cloud project for quota, billing, and monitoring.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
API formats
Endpoints supports APIs described with OpenAPI 2.0 and OpenAPI 3.x, as well as a gRPC option.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Authentication
Documented user authentication options include Firebase Authentication and Auth0, which use JWT validation by ESP.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Deployment options
Documented backends include Google Kubernetes Engine, Compute Engine, Kubernetes, App Engine, Cloud Run, Cloud Run functions, and Knative serving, with proxy availability varying by backend.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Hosting
Endpoints is optimized for Docker and can host an API anywhere Docker is supported if it has internet access to Google Cloud.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Logs and metrics
Endpoints uses Service Infrastructure to manage APIs and report logs and metrics viewable in the Google Cloud console.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Maker founding
Google Inc. was officially born in August 1998.Read 9 Oct 2026 · about.google
Maker headquarters
Google's company story identifies its current headquarters, the Googleplex, as being in Mountain View, California.Read 9 Oct 2026 · about.google
Pricing basis
Endpoints pricing depends on the number of API calls, and Endpoints charges by calls to Service Control.Read 9 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
Proxy
Endpoints provides API management through the Extensible Service Proxy (ESP) or ESPv2.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Quota identification
To use features such as quotas, each request must pass an API key so Endpoints can identify the caller's Google Cloud project.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Quotas
Quotas control the rate of application calls and help protect APIs from excessive requests, but the documented quota feature is Beta and may have limited support.Read 9 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com

Plans and prices

Free usage tier Free Price per million API calls (USD) 1,999,999 API calls Read 21 Sep 2026 · cloud.google.com
Standard usage tier $3 a month Price per million API calls (USD) 2,000,000 to 1,000,000,000 API calls Read 21 Sep 2026 · cloud.google.com
High-volume usage tier $1.50 a month Price per million API calls (USD) 1,000,000,000 API calls and above Read 21 Sep 2026 · cloud.google.com
Usage-based Free 1,000,000,000 API calls and above: $1.50 per million Read 9 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com

Every Google Cloud Endpoints plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports OpenAPI 2.0, OpenAPI 3.x, and gRPC.
  • Can validate API keys and identify Google Cloud projects.
  • Logs and metrics appear in the Google Cloud console.
  • Documented backends include Kubernetes and Cloud Run.

Limits

  • Quota support is Beta and may be limited.
  • Quotas require an API key on each request.
  • Proxy availability varies by deployment backend.

Who it suits

Endpoints suits teams managing APIs through Google Cloud that need access controls, monitoring, analytics, or quotas. Its deployment options also fit teams hosting Docker-supported APIs with internet access to Google Cloud.

Verdict

Endpoints combines API access management with deployment choices and usage reporting. Compare the call-volume thresholds and confirm whether the documented proxy and quota behavior fit your backend.

Where Specifiction places it

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