# EMQX vs unleash

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

| | EMQX | unleash |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 78/100 ✓ | 75/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 14 in Messaging | #1 of 8 in Feature Flags |
| GitHub stars | 16 868 ✓ | 13 912 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +114 ✓ | +90 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 15 | 15 |
| Latest release | 6.3.2 · 16 Oct 2026 | v8.3.0 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Erlang | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

EMQX scores 78/100 against 75/100 for unleash, so it is the safer default.

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

## Details

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

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