# Apache Kafka vs Octoprint

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

| | Apache Kafka | Octoprint |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #1 of 22 in 3D Printing |
| GitHub stars | 34 152 ✓ | 9 167 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +327 ✓ | +57 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 5 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | 1.11.8 · 23 Jun 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Java | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 73/100 for Octoprint, so it is the safer default.

Octoprint ships more often: 5 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

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

Apache Kafka is growing faster right now (+327 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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