claude-code vs kong
claude-code is the more adopted project, with 153,207 GitHub stars against 44,296 for kong (about 3.5x more). claude-code was updated more recently (today, against 5 days ago). claude-code is written in TypeScript and kong in Lua.
| claude-code | kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Claude Code is an agentic coding tool that lives in your terminal, understands your codebase, and helps you code faster by executing routine tasks, explaining complex code, and handling git workflows | 🦍 The API and AI Gateway |
| Author | anthropics | Kong |
| Stars | 153207 | 44296 |
| Language | TypeScript | Lua |
| License | Apache-2.0 | |
| Last update | 2026-10-24T02:18:59Z | 2026-10-19T02:45:09Z |
| Source | https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code | https://github.com/Kong/kong |
| Stars this week | n/a | +19 |
Which should you choose?
- claude-code describes itself as: "Claude Code is an agentic coding tool that lives in your terminal, understands your codebase, and helps you code faster by executing..."
- kong describes itself as: "🦍 The API and AI Gateway"
Stars measure adoption, not fit. Read both READMEs for the tools each server exposes, then try them side by side in your client: the install guide shows how to add both.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, claude-code or kong?
claude-code has more GitHub stars: 153,207 against 44,296. This week claude-code gained 0 stars and kong gained 19, which says more about current momentum than the all-time total. Both figures are refreshed daily from GitHub.
Are claude-code and kong open source?
claude-code: no license stated. kong: Apache-2.0 (open source). An open-source license lets you run and self-host the server at no cost. If either one wraps a commercial API, that provider's pricing still applies, so read each README for the accounts and keys it needs.
Can I use claude-code and kong together?
Yes, if both run as MCP servers. MCP clients such as Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code can connect to several servers at once, and the agent picks tools from each. Give them distinct names in your config, and keep the number of active servers small so tool definitions do not crowd the context window.
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claude-code details · kong details · All MCP Clients & Apps MCP servers
Data last updated . Stars and downloads are refreshed every day from GitHub and npm.