# Apache Kafka vs Orca

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

| | Apache Kafka | Orca |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 | 91/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #1 of 209 in AI Agents |
| GitHub stars | 34 153 | 109 022 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +347 | +9 115 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 15 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v1.4.243 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Java | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Orca scores 91/100 against 83/100 for Apache Kafka, so it is the safer default.

Orca ships more often: 15 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

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

Orca is growing faster right now (+9 115 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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