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Apache Kafka VS Azure Service Bus_

As of 4 November 2026, Azure Service Bus is named by 1,064 companies and Apache Kafka by 6,262; Apache Kafka skews to companies under 200 people (45% vs 32%), Azure Service Bus to companies over 1,000 (40% vs 28%).

As of 4 November 2026 · refreshed daily · counts move as websites, DNS and career sites are re-read.

The website-and-DNS footprint is not comparable between a marketing suite and a CRM: Apache Kafka's script and mail records show on hundreds of thousands of small sites, Azure Service Bus rarely leaves a trace outside its own apps. Compare on the job-posting numbers; use the footprint for reach.

Apache Kafka: 2–200 employees
45%
Azure Service Bus: 2–200 employees
32%
Apache Kafka: 1,000+ employees
28%
Azure Service Bus: 1,000+ employees
40%
Postings per company, 90 days
4.0 · 2.9
Website or DNS footprint
0 · 0
6,262companies name Apache Kafka
1,064companies name Azure Service Bus
0name both
25,230 · 3,042postings in 90 days, Apache Kafka · Azure Service Bus
02 — Side by side

Who chooses which

Share of each tool's companies in every segment. "Leans" marks a gap of more than two points.

By company size
SegmentApache KafkashareAzure Service BusshareLeans
Self-employed1893%202%even
2-10 employees5379%384%Apache Kafka
11-50 employees91115%13112%Apache Kafka
51-200 employees1,38922%17516%Apache Kafka
201-500 employees87814%15314%even
501-1000 employees61310%11711%even
1001-5000 employees88414%20920%Azure Service Bus
5001-10000 employees2444%636%Azure Service Bus
10,001+ employees61710%15815%Azure Service Bus
By industry
SegmentApache KafkashareAzure Service BusshareLeans
Technology & software3,36854%47945%Apache Kafka
Business & finance services1,35522%25724%Azure Service Bus
Manufacturing & industry4087%747%even
Media & content2414%242%even
Commerce & trade1893%454%even
Utilities & infrastructure1332%313%even
Consumer services & leisure1132%323%even
Transport, logistics & rental1032%283%even
Public, community & associations952%232%even
Automotive681%141%even
Health care661%252%even
Property & construction611%192%even
By country
SegmentApache KafkashareAzure Service BusshareLeans
United States3,57457%54251%Apache Kafka
United Kingdom4277%10610%Azure Service Bus
Germany2574%363%even
India2063%363%even
France1853%212%even
Brazil1382%222%even
Canada1052%363%even
Netherlands851%232%even
Poland851%202%even
Sweden741%232%even
Australia701%252%even
Spain671%––outside top 12
Belgium––232%outside top 12
Postings by team (share of each tool's postings)
SegmentApache KafkashareAzure Service BusshareLeans
Software engineering19,13158%2,48366%Azure Service Bus
Data & AI7,75023%2557%Apache Kafka
IT operations & business systems1,8936%44412%Azure Service Bus
Product, program & project management3591%431%even
Engineering (non-software)3431%832%even
Sales1911%140%even
Unclassified900%30%even
Customer service & success770%80%even
Quality, safety & environment620%20%even
General management & consulting400%50%even
construction and civil380%40%even
Finance & accounting250%10%even
Legal, compliance & risk250%––outside top 12
Marketing & communications110%30%even
logistics warehouse and transport100%––outside top 12
Design & UX80%20%even
Administration & office70%––outside top 12
Human resources60%––outside top 12
Business development & strategy50%––outside top 12
Education & training50%––outside top 12
skilled trades and field service50%––outside top 12
facilities cleaning and security30%––outside top 12
Retail & store operations30%––outside top 12
arts media and entertainment20%––outside top 12
hospitality and food service20%20%even
manufacturing and production20%––outside top 12
Travel, leisure & events20%––outside top 12
healthcare clinical10%––outside top 12
research and science10%––outside top 12
Cite this

Quote the sentence with the date and the link. The numbers change daily; the link always shows the current ones.

Azure Service Bus is named by 1,064 companies in job postings and Apache Kafka by 6,262; 0 name both. (Breaknorm, 4 November 2026, https://breaknorm.co/compare/apache-kafka-vs-azure-service-bus)
How we know

Read from the source, not self-reported

Every number on this page can be traced to a page we crawled or a posting we read. Full methodology →

  • Job postingsRead hourly from career sites. A tool counts when the employer's own text names it as the team's system; both tools can count for one company.
  • Website and DNSScripts and embeds on the company's pages, plus SPF, DKIM, MX and CNAME records of its domain that point at the vendor.
  • SegmentsCountry, size and industry from the company profile built from its website.
  • Not a reviewNo ratings, prices or feature claims. For those, read the vendors.
FAQ

Apache Kafka vs Azure Service Bus: questions

Which is more used, Apache Kafka or Azure Service Bus?

By companies naming it in their own job postings, Apache Kafka (6,262) over Azure Service Bus (1,064). By website-and-DNS footprint, Azure Service Bus (0 vs 0), because its scripts and mail records sit on many small company sites.

Who chooses Apache Kafka?

45% of Apache Kafka companies have 2 to 200 employees, against 32% for Azure Service Bus. 28% of Apache Kafka companies have over 1,000 employees, against 40% for Azure Service Bus.

Do companies run both?

0 companies name both in their postings, usually Apache Kafka in marketing and Azure Service Bus in sales, or during a migration.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the employer's own text in job postings read hourly from career sites, and from scripts found on company websites in our crawl. No vendor data, no surveys.

Companies and people

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