# Apache Kafka vs Versity S3 Gateway

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

| | Apache Kafka | Versity S3 Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 66/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #2 of 5 in Storage |
| GitHub stars | 34 152 ✓ | 3 076 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +346 ✓ | +136 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 14 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v1.10.0 · 22 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Java | Go |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka scores 83/100 against 66/100 for Versity S3 Gateway, so it is the safer default.

Versity S3 Gateway ships more often: 14 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

If you want the quickest setup, Versity S3 Gateway is easier to run; Apache Kafka needs more configuration.

Apache Kafka is growing faster right now (+346 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Apache Kafka](https://selfhost.directory/project/apache-kafka) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/apache-kafka.md)
- [Versity S3 Gateway](https://selfhost.directory/project/versity-s3-gateway) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/versity-s3-gateway.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/apache-kafka-vs-versity-s3-gateway