Apache Kafka vs NATS
| Apache Kafka | NATS | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Paid from | — | Free |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | — | api, Linux, self-hosted |
| Deployment model | — | hybrid |
| Delivery guarantees | — | configurable |
| Supported protocols | — | NATS, MQTT, WebSocket |
Both are listed in Best Message Broker Software, Best Message Queue (MQ) Software. On The Geeks Club, NATS scores higher on our published basis.