# Apache Kafka vs Tipi

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

| | Apache Kafka | Tipi |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 71/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #3 of 22 in Home Server |
| GitHub stars | 34 154 ✓ | 9 710 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +329 ✓ | +34 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 5 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v4.11.0 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Java | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 71/100 for Tipi, so it is the safer default.

Tipi ships more often: 5 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

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

Apache Kafka is growing faster right now (+329 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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