# Apache Kafka vs Thingport

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

| | Apache Kafka | Thingport |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 49/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #14 of 22 in 3D Printing |
| GitHub stars | 34 152 ✓ | 237 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +327 ✓ | +1 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 10 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | extension-latest · 25 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Java | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 49/100 for Thingport, so it is the safer default.

Thingport ships more often: 10 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

If you want the quickest setup, Thingport 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)
- [Thingport](https://selfhost.directory/project/thingport) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/thingport.md)

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