Compare RabbitMQ

Most of the broker comparisons you'll find online are written to sell you something. But choosing a messaging system is an architectural decision you have to live with for years.

These pages are written by the team that builds RabbitMQ. We strive to be as objective as possible, and we readily acknowledge where other brokers perform better or are a better fit for specific use cases. Our goal is simply to help you make an informed decision.

If you spot something inaccurate or unfair, please tell us.

Comparisons

• RabbitMQ vs. Apache Kafka® — Kafka was once streaming only and RabbitMQ messaging and queueing only. Today both do both: RabbitMQ has had a replicated log since 2021, and Kafka gained queue semantics in 2026. Where the two designs agree, where they part ways, and how to choose.