# Apache Kafka vs RustDesk Server

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

| | Apache Kafka | RustDesk Server |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 75/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #4 of 22 in Remote Desktop |
| GitHub stars | 34 153 ✓ | 10 628 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +347 ✓ | +179 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 2 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | 1.1.16 · 20 Jul 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Java | Rust |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 75/100 for RustDesk Server, so it is the safer default.

RustDesk Server ships more often: 2 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

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

## Details

- [Apache Kafka](https://selfhost.directory/project/apache-kafka) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/apache-kafka.md)
- [RustDesk Server](https://selfhost.directory/project/rustdesk-server) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/rustdesk-server.md)

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