# Apache Kafka vs netbird

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

| | Apache Kafka | netbird |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 81/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #2 of 56 in VPN |
| GitHub stars | 34 152 ✓ | 30 313 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +327 | +810 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 40 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v0.81.5 · 26 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Other |
| Main language | Java | Go |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 81/100 for netbird, so it is the safer default.

netbird ships more often: 40 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

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

netbird is growing faster right now (+810 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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