# Apache Kafka vs Neko

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

| | Apache Kafka | Neko |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 78/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #3 of 22 in Remote Desktop |
| GitHub stars | 34 152 ✓ | 22 561 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +346 ✓ | +186 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 4 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v3.2.0 · 15 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 78/100 for Neko, so it is the safer default.

Neko ships more often: 4 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

## Details

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

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