Apache Kafka Pricing (2026)
Apache Kafka is free to start. Apache Kafka is an open source distributed event streaming platform used for data pipelines, streaming analytics and integration, including the Kafka Connect framework and its connectors.
Plans listed by the maker
As published on the Apache Kafka listing. Amounts are shown as written; check the maker's site for taxes, regional pricing and current promotions.
| Starter plan | Open source - free under the Apache License 2.0; self-managed |
How it compares
Across the 36 Data & Analytics tools on TechLogHub, 58% offer a free tier and the median published entry price is $15. Apache Kafka is below the category median and has a free tier. Directory-wide, 57% of tools have a free tier and the median entry plan is $9.99.
Medians come from the TechLogHub pricing report, recomputed daily.
What similar tools charge
Ranked by similarity to Apache Kafka (shared use cases, audience and stack), showing each tool's listed entry point.
| Tool | Free tier | Entry price | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNIME Analytics Platform | — | Analytics Platform - Free - open source desktop application · KNIME Hub Team plan - from 99 EUR/month - 3 seats, 120 execution credits (0.025 EUR per credit), 1-month trial with 1,000 credits · Business / Enterprise Hub - contact sales | |
| Databricks Data Intelligence Platform | — | Pay as you go - billed per second by DBU usage; rates vary by cloud, region and SKU · Committed use contract - discounts for committed usage; contact Databricks · Free trial / Community Edition - free, limited | |
| Basedash | $1,000 | Startup - $1,000/month - up to 25 users, $1,000/month AI credits, 750+ sources, warehouse, MCP server, automations · Enterprise - custom - self-hosting, embedding, SSO, SCIM, audit logs, custom AI models | |
| Querri | $0 | Free - $0 - 15 credits/month, 3 connectors, 50 MB, 7-day retention · Pro - $119/month - 200 credits, 10 connectors, 5 GB, 6-month retention · Team - $399/month - 750 credits, 20 connectors, 25 GB, audit logs, 99.9% SLA (Scale plan custom) | |
| Linqry | $5 | Free · $5/month | |
| Exeria Charts | — | Free open-source core (AGPL v3) for open and experimental work. · Commercial license for proprietary products to keep application code closed-source with startup-friendly pricing. |
All alternatives to Apache Kafka Free alternatives to Apache Kafka
Apache Kafka pricing FAQ
Quick answers about Apache Kafka's plans, free tier and billing
Does Apache Kafka have a free plan?
Yes. Apache Kafka lists a free tier. Plans listed by the maker: Open source - free under the Apache License 2.0; self-managed.
How much does Apache Kafka cost?
Apache Kafka starts at $0. The maker lists these plans: Open source - free under the Apache License 2.0; self-managed.
How does Apache Kafka pricing compare with other Data & Analytics tools?
Across the 36 Data & Analytics tools on TechLogHub, 58% offer a free tier and the median published entry price is $15 per month. Apache Kafka is free to start, below the category median and has a free tier.
What are cheaper alternatives to Apache Kafka?
KNIME Analytics Platform (free tier), Querri (free tier), Linqry (free tier), Exeria Charts (free tier) are similar Data & Analytics tools listed on TechLogHub with a lower or free entry point.
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