# Apache Kafka vs WindowsinDocker

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

| | Apache Kafka | WindowsinDocker |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 | 83/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 12 in Message Broker | #1 of 15 in Virtualization |
| GitHub stars | 34 152 | 53 718 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +327 ✓ | +323 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 11 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v6.06 · 5 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Java | Shell |

## Which one should you pick?

Apache Kafka and WindowsinDocker score the same (83/100), so the choice comes down to the details below.

WindowsinDocker ships more often: 11 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Apache Kafka.

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

## Details

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

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