Apache ActiveMQ
7.5#4 in message broker softwareFree planFree planWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitApache ActiveMQ vs RabbitMQ
What both publish
| Fact | Apache ActiveMQ | RabbitMQ |
|---|---|---|
| Current release | ActiveMQ 6.3.2 was released on September 2, 2026 as a maintenance release. | The latest listed release is RabbitMQ 4.3.6, released on 16 September 2026. |
| Integrations | The site lists Spring support, JCA 1.5 resource adaptors, and testing in TomEE, Geronimo, JBoss, GlassFish, and WebLogic. | RabbitMQ provides client libraries for Java, .NET/C#, Erlang, and other languages, and offers a community Docker image and Kubernetes operators. |
| Management API | Documented JSON management endpoints expose broker, queue, topic, subscription, connector and connection metrics. | The management plugin supplies an HTTP API, browser UI and rabbitmqadmin command-line tool for administration and monitoring. |
| Messaging protocols | The site lists OpenWire, STOMP, AMQP 1.0, and MQTT 3.1 support. | RabbitMQ supports open protocols including AMQP 1.0, MQTT 5.0, STOMP and other protocol plugins. |
| Product | Apache ActiveMQ is an open source messaging and Integration Patterns server. | RabbitMQ is an open source messaging and streaming broker for application communication, including distributed microservices, real-time data, and IoT. |
| Rating on G2 | 4.3 out of 5 from 16 reviews | 4.1 out of 5 from 46 reviews |
Apache ActiveMQ plans
- Apache ActiveMQ ClassicFree
RabbitMQ plans
- Open-source RabbitMQFree
- Open Source RabbitMQ ServerFree
- Tanzu RabbitMQPriced on request
- VMware Tanzu RabbitMQPriced on request
Pick Apache ActiveMQ if…
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.
Pick RabbitMQ if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.