# Apache Kafka vs Spoolman

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

| | Apache Kafka | Spoolman |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 65/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #3 of 22 in 3D Printing |
| GitHub stars | 34 155 ✓ | 2 958 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +330 ✓ | +112 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 7 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v0.27.0 · 25 Sept 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Java | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 65/100 for Spoolman, so it is the safer default.

Spoolman ships more often: 7 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

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

Apache Kafka is growing faster right now (+330 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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