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Apache Kafka

Distributed event streaming platform

Reviewed byRoman K· 2026-06-28

About

High-throughput, fault-tolerant event log used for streaming, integration, and analytics.

streamingeventsapacheopen-source

Metrics

33.0k
GitHub Stars
15.3k
Forks
2.6M
npm Downloads/wk
423
Open Issues

More in Queues & Message Bus

Frequently asked questions

What is Apache Kafka?

High-throughput, fault-tolerant event log used for streaming, integration, and analytics. It falls under the queues & message bus category and uses a open-source pricing model. The project is actively maintained with 33.0k GitHub stars.

Is Apache Kafka free?

Yes, Apache Kafka offers a free plan that you can use without a credit card. The pricing model is open-source.

How much does Apache Kafka cost?

Apache Kafka is free to start. It uses a open-source pricing model. A free plan is available for small projects or evaluation. Check https://kafka.apache.org for the latest pricing details and plan comparison.

What category is Apache Kafka in?

Apache Kafka is a queues & message bus tool. Job queues, event brokers, pub/sub infrastructure You can compare Apache Kafka with 2 alternatives in the same category on Soft.xyz.

Is Apache Kafka open source?

Yes, Apache Kafka is open source and freely available on GitHub. It has 33.0k stars and 15.3k forks, with the last commit on 2026-06-28. You can inspect the source code, contribute, or self-host it.

What are alternatives to Apache Kafka?

Popular alternatives to Apache Kafka include NATS, RabbitMQ. Each offers different pricing, features, and community support. You can compare them side-by-side on Soft.xyz using real metrics like GitHub stars, npm downloads, and actual pricing data.

How popular is Apache Kafka?

Apache Kafka has 33.0k stars on GitHub and 2.6M weekly npm downloads. This places it among the most popular tools in its category. The project was last updated on 2026-06-28.