# EMQX vs Orca

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

| | EMQX | Orca |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 78/100 | 91/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #1 of 14 in Messaging | #1 of 209 in AI Agents |
| GitHub stars | 16 868 | 108 958 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +114 | +9 051 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 15 | 15 |
| Latest release | 6.3.2 · 16 Oct 2026 | v1.4.243 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | Other | MIT |
| Main language | Erlang | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Orca scores 91/100 against 78/100 for EMQX, so it is the safer default.

If you want the quickest setup, Orca is easier to run; EMQX needs more configuration.

Orca is growing faster right now (+9 051 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [EMQX](https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx.md)
- [Orca](https://selfhost.directory/project/orca) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/orca.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/emqx-vs-orca