# Apache Kafka vs Unison

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

| | Apache Kafka | Unison |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 65/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #2 of 15 in File Sync |
| GitHub stars | 34 154 ✓ | 5 559 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +329 ✓ | +65 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 2 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v2.54.0 · 1 May 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Java | OCaml |

## Which one should you pick?

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

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

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

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