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Apache ActiveMQ

Apache ActiveMQ is an open-source messaging and Integration Patterns server for self-hosted application messaging.

Place
#4 of 39
Score
7.5
Apache ActiveMQ's website

What Apache ActiveMQ is

Apache ActiveMQ is an open-source messaging and Integration Patterns server for self-hosted application messaging. It supports OpenWire, STOMP, AMQP 1.0 and MQTT 3.1, with client options listed for Java, C, C++, C#, Ruby, Perl, Python and PHP. Features include message groups, virtual destinations, wildcards, composite destinations and enterprise integration patterns. ActiveMQ fully supports JMS 1.1 and J2EE 1.4+ with transient, persistent, transactional and XA messaging, and partially supports Jakarta Messaging 3.1 and JMS 2.0. Transport choices include in-VM, TCP, SSL, NIO, UDP, multicast, JGroups and JXTA; persistence options include JDBC and a high-performance journal. A REST API and Ajax web streaming provide browser access. Security documentation describes pluggable providers, JAAS authentication and XML-configured authorization, along with user and group authentication and read, write and admin destination permissions. The project marks the 6.3.x and 5.19.x release lines active for community updates, security patches and bug fixes. ActiveMQ Classic is free at no cost under the Apache License 2.0.

Good

  • Supports OpenWire, STOMP, AMQP 1.0 and MQTT 3.1.
  • Client options include Java, Python, PHP and other languages.
  • Includes REST API and Ajax browser streaming support.
  • Security documentation covers authentication and destination permissions.
  • Free and released under the Apache License 2.0.

Watch out

  • Self-hosted deployment requires operating the server.
  • Jakarta Messaging 3.1 and JMS 2.0 support is partial.
  • ActiveMQ 6.3.2 lists Java versions 17, 21 and 25.

Who it suits

ActiveMQ suits teams that need a self-hosted messaging server with multiple protocols, client languages and transport choices. It is also relevant where JMS support and configurable destination permissions are needed.

Verdict

Apache ActiveMQ provides a broad set of messaging protocols, transports and security options for self-hosted use. Review its partial newer Jakarta Messaging support and listed runtime compatibility when assessing fit.

Plans and prices

From Apache ActiveMQ's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
Apache ActiveMQ ClassicFreeOpen source · Apache License 2.0

The facts

Each one read from Apache ActiveMQ's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Administration
A bundled web console provides queue, topic, subscriber, connection, scheduling and message-send administration.checked 14 Oct 2026
Advanced messaging features
The feature catalogue includes message groups, virtual destinations, wildcards, composite destinations, selectors, redelivery policies and scheduled delivery.checked 14 Oct 2026
AMQP
ActiveMQ supports the OASIS AMQP 1.0 protocol, including SASL authentication and authorization policies.checked 14 Oct 2026
Authentication and permissions
The documentation describes authentication with users and groups and destination permissions for read, write, and admin operations.checked 3 Oct 2026
Build tooling
Source builds use Apache Maven, with commands for building and generating Eclipse or IntelliJ project files.checked 14 Oct 2026
Client languages
The site lists clients for Java, C, C++, C#, Ruby, Perl, Python, and PHP.checked 3 Oct 2026
Clustering and high availability
Features include broker networks, master-slave configurations, shared storage and replicated message stores.checked 14 Oct 2026
Cross-language clients
Official pages list client support for Java, C, C++, C#, Ruby, Perl, Python, PHP and JavaScript.checked 14 Oct 2026
Current Java requirements
The 6.3.2 release lists Java compatibility for 17, 21 and 25, recommending Java 25 for virtual threads.checked 14 Oct 2026
Current release
ActiveMQ 6.3.2 was released on September 2, 2026 as a maintenance release.checked 14 Oct 2026
Documentation
The project publishes getting-started, protocol, feature, security, administration, FAQ and API documentation.checked 14 Oct 2026
Download verification
The project recommends verifying downloads with an ASC signature or SHA-512 checksum.checked 3 Oct 2026
Enterprise integration
ActiveMQ implements Enterprise Integration Patterns and can run Apache Camel routes inside the broker.checked 14 Oct 2026
Installation
Installation consists of downloading an archive, extracting it and starting the broker with the supplied activemq command.checked 14 Oct 2026
Integrations
The site lists Spring support, JCA 1.5 resource adaptors, and testing in TomEE, Geronimo, JBoss, GlassFish, and WebLogic.checked 3 Oct 2026
JCA integration
The distribution includes JCA 1.5 resource adapters for inbound and outbound messaging in J2EE servers.checked 14 Oct 2026
JMS support
It partially supports Jakarta Messaging 3.1 and JMS 2.0, and fully supports JMS 1.1 and J2EE 1.4+ with transient, persistent, transactional, and XA messaging.checked 3 Oct 2026
Licence
ActiveMQ is open source under the Apache License 2.0.checked 14 Oct 2026
License
The product is released under the Apache License 2.0.checked 3 Oct 2026
Limit: documentation and streaming
G2 reviewers report that documentation can be hard to read, that the broker is unsuitable for some high-load or event-streaming workloads, and that clustering or failover may be less seamless than alternatives.checked 14 Oct 2026
Limit: sparse documentation
Capterra reviewers repeatedly describe the documentation as sparse and say RabbitMQ is better documented or more prominent.checked 14 Oct 2026

The company

Maker founded
LinkedIn lists the Apache Software Foundation as founded in 1999.checked 14 Oct 2026
Maker headquarters
LinkedIn lists Wilmington, Delaware as the foundation's headquarters.checked 14 Oct 2026
Maker legal name
The Apache Software Foundation is the organization identified as ActiveMQ's maker.checked 14 Oct 2026

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