Apache KafkavsOwncast
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Apache Kafka | Owncast | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #1 of 4 in Live Streaming |
| GitHub stars | 34 153 | 11 632 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +328 | +76 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 3 |
| Latest release | — | v0.3.0 · 2 Sept 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Java | Go |
Which one should you pick?
Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 73/100 for Owncast, so it is the safer default.
Owncast ships more often: 3 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.
If you want the quickest setup, Owncast is easier to run; Apache Kafka needs more configuration.
Apache Kafka is growing faster right now (+328 stars in 30 days).
Apache Kafka details →Owncast details →