# Apache Kafka vs verdaccio

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

| | Apache Kafka | verdaccio |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 76/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #1 of 11 in Package Management |
| GitHub stars | 34 153 ✓ | 17 956 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +328 ✓ | +57 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 29 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v7.0.2 · 26 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Java | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 76/100 for verdaccio, so it is the safer default.

verdaccio ships more often: 29 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

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

Apache Kafka is growing faster right now (+328 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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