Best Event Streaming Platforms in 2026
Updated
In short: Aiven for Apache Kafka is ranked #1 of 22 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Apache Pulsar and Confluent Cloud. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Apache Pulsar. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka at $0.11/mo.
For systems that move event data between connected applications, compare the integration, delivery, and processing features that matter to your workflows. RisingWave, Aiven for Apache Kafka, and Apache Pulsar head the ranking, followed by Confluent Cloud and Redpanda. Check the listed connectors and supported client languages alongside deployment model and delivery guarantee. Maximum retention can help you compare how long event data is kept, while schema registry and stream processing are additional capabilities to review. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide cost reference points. The entries are ordered as a ranked best-of list; use the listed criteria to assess them against your integration and retention needs.
22 event streaming platforms ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Aiven for Apache Kafka Top pick · 7.1 Free plan · $35/mo
#2 Apache Pulsar Runner-up · 7.1 Free plan · Free
#3 Confluent Cloud Also great · 7.1 Free plan · $385/mo
- Free planFree trial apiLinuxWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 35 /mo
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Maximum retention
- 3 days
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$35/mofirst paid tier About Aiven for Apache KafkaVisit site - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self-hosted
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 385 /mo
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$385/mofirst paid tier About Confluent CloudVisit site - Free plan apiself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$0.23/mofirst paid tier About RisingWaveVisit site - Free trial apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebWindowsLinuxiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Stream processing
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - apiLinuxWeb
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$0.11/mofirst paid tier About Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache KafkaVisit site - apiWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Maximum retention
- 365 days
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxWindowsmacOS
- Deployment model
- self-hosted
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Stream processing
- No
- Schema registry
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms€79/mofirst paid tier About WisemblyVisit site - Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self-hosted
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 73 /mo
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$73/mofirst paid tier About StreamNativeVisit site - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Stream processing
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 300 /mo
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Maximum retention
- 90 days
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - AndroidapiiOSWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 149 /mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$149/mofirst paid tier About Keen Product AnalyticsVisit site - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Maximum retention
- 7 days
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Stream processing
- Yes
- Schema registry
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Deployment model
- self-hosted
- Stream processing
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Deployment model
- self-hosted
- Stream processing
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which event streaming platform is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
Aiven for Apache Kafka is ranked #1 of 22 with a score of 7.1. Apache Pulsar is second and Confluent Cloud third.
How many of these have a free plan?
4 of the 22 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.11/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.