Free
Free
Apache Kafka is open source under the Apache License with free downloads and documentation.
- Access
- Apache Kafka is open source under the Apache License with free downloads and documentation.
Kafka
● Identity checkedCode · Vendor site 2026-10-04
Apache Kafka is an open-source distributed event streaming platform used for high-performance pipelines, stream processing, analytics, and data integration. The project site describes core capabilities such as low-latency delivery, elastic scaling, durable storage, and Kafka Connect integrations.
- Category
- Code
- Free access
- Apache Kafka is open source under the Apache License with free downloads and documentation.
- API access
- Client APIs and Connect interfaces are documented across the Apache Kafka project site and docs.
Is Kafka right for you?
A good fit for
Platform engineers and data teams building real-time streaming, analytics, and integration workloads.
Before you choose
Self-managed Kafka clusters require your own infrastructure, operations, and capacity planning.
Event streaming platform
Apache Kafka’s official site positions the project as durable, scalable event streaming with built-in processing and Connect integrations for enterprise data pipelines.
What it can do
Features & capabilities
Unknown is different from unavailable. Each fact carries its own evidence.
| Capability | Value | Evidence | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale claims | Homepage cites elastic clusters up to thousands of brokers and trillions of messages per day. | Facts sourced | 2026-10-04 |
| Performance | Site highlights network-limited throughput with latencies as low as 2ms in core messaging. | Facts sourced | 2026-10-04 |
| Integrations | Kafka Connect is described as integrating with hundreds of sources and sinks. | Facts sourced | 2026-10-04 |
Understand the total cost
Kafka pricing & plans
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Frequently asked questions
What is Kafka used for?
Apache Kafka is an open-source distributed event streaming platform used for high-performance pipelines, stream processing, analytics, and data integration. The project site describes core capabilities such as low-latency delivery, elastic scaling, durable storage, and Kafka Connect integrations.
Does Kafka have a free plan?
Apache Kafka is open source under the Apache License with free downloads and documentation.. This record lists ongoing free access; check the plan limits before starting.
How much does Kafka cost?
No paid monthly price is listed; this record treats the product as free to start. See the plan cards for entitlements, billing commitments and seat minimums.
Can I use Kafka through an API?
Client APIs and Connect interfaces are documented across the Apache Kafka project site and docs.. API access and subscription access may have different terms; consult the linked sources.
What should I check before choosing it?
Self-managed Kafka clusters require your own infrastructure, operations, and capacity planning.
Price history
No retained pricing changes yet. A current price alone does not establish a historical trend.
How this profile is supported
Identity and profile
Reviewed vendor source
Read original source ↗Facts apply to the named version and check date. Send a sourced correction if something changed.