# Apache Kafka vs langflow

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

| | Apache Kafka | langflow |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 | 90/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #2 of 209 in AI Agents |
| GitHub stars | 34 152 | 156 112 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +346 | +921 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 20 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v1.12.8 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Java | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

langflow scores 90/100 against 83/100 for Apache Kafka, so it is the safer default.

langflow ships more often: 20 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

If you want the quickest setup, langflow is easier to run; Apache Kafka needs more configuration.

langflow is growing faster right now (+921 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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