# EMQX vs Syslog-ng

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

| | EMQX | Syslog-ng |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 78/100 ✓ | 66/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 14 in Messaging | #3 of 8 in Logging |
| GitHub stars | 16 868 ✓ | 2 386 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +113 ✓ | +10 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 15 ✓ | 2 |
| Latest release | 6.3.2 · 16 Oct 2026 ✓ | syslog-ng-4.12.0 · 16 Jun 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | Other |
| Main language | Erlang | C |

## Which one should you pick?

EMQX scores 78/100 against 66/100 for Syslog-ng, so it is the safer default.

EMQX ships more often: 15 stable releases in the past year, against 2 for Syslog-ng.

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

EMQX is growing faster right now (+113 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [EMQX](https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx.md)
- [Syslog-ng](https://selfhost.directory/project/syslog-ng) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/syslog-ng.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/emqx-vs-syslog-ng