# Apache Kafka vs Corteza

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | Apache Kafka | Corteza |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 61/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #6 of 17 in Low Code |
| GitHub stars | 34 152 ✓ | 2 183 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +346 ✓ | +18 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 3 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | 2026.9.0 · 19 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Java | Go |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 61/100 for Corteza, so it is the safer default.

Corteza ships more often: 3 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

Apache Kafka is growing faster right now (+346 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Apache Kafka](https://selfhost.directory/project/apache-kafka) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/apache-kafka.md)
- [Corteza](https://selfhost.directory/project/corteza) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/corteza.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/apache-kafka-vs-corteza