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Apache Kafka VS Confluent_

As of 30 October 2026, Confluent is named by 106 companies and Apache Kafka by 4,727; Apache Kafka skews to companies under 200 people (46% vs 38%), Confluent to companies over 1,000 (42% vs 28%).

As of 30 October 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, Confluent rarely leaves a trace outside its own apps. Compare on the job-posting numbers; use the footprint for reach.

Apache Kafka: 2–200 employees
46%
Confluent: 2–200 employees
38%
Apache Kafka: 1,000+ employees
28%
Confluent: 1,000+ employees
42%
Postings per company, 90 days
4.3 · 4.3
Website or DNS footprint
0 · 135
4,727companies name Apache Kafka
106companies name Confluent
0name both
20,111 · 459postings in 90 days, Apache Kafka · Confluent
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 KafkashareConfluentshareLeans
Self-employed601%––outside top 12
2-10 employees3357%22%Apache Kafka
11-50 employees74916%1413%Apache Kafka
51-200 employees1,09923%2423%even
201-500 employees68615%109%Apache Kafka
501-1000 employees48410%1110%even
1001-5000 employees69315%1918%Confluent
5001-10000 employees1844%66%even
10,001+ employees4379%2019%Confluent
By industry
SegmentApache KafkashareConfluentshareLeans
Technology & software2,66756%5047%Apache Kafka
Business & finance services99021%3230%Confluent
Manufacturing & industry3016%66%even
Media & content1613%33%even
Commerce & trade1112%22%even
Utilities & infrastructure982%33%even
Transport, logistics & rental752%11%even
Consumer services & leisure722%44%Confluent
Public, community & associations681%––outside top 12
Health care541%22%even
Automotive461%22%even
Hospitality & travel401%11%even
By country
SegmentApache KafkashareConfluentshareLeans
United States2,81159%6359%even
United Kingdom3497%1615%Confluent
Germany2135%33%even
India1593%22%even
France1473%66%Confluent
Canada812%11%even
Brazil732%11%even
Netherlands732%––outside top 12
Poland641%––outside top 12
Italy581%––outside top 12
Switzerland561%––outside top 12
Australia531%33%even
United Arab Emirates––22%outside top 12
Spain––22%outside top 12
Sweden––22%outside top 12
Argentina––11%outside top 12
Postings by team (share of each tool's postings)
SegmentApache KafkashareConfluentshareLeans
Software engineering15,63857%24145%Apache Kafka
Data & AI6,52424%9618%Apache Kafka
IT operations & business systems1,6046%8115%Confluent
Product, program & project management3161%132%even
Engineering (non-software)2631%61%even
Sales1621%112%even
Customer service & success690%82%even
Unclassified480%––outside top 12
Quality, safety & environment390%––outside top 12
construction and civil340%10%even
General management & consulting310%––outside top 12
Finance & accounting180%20%even
procurement and purchasing––31%outside top 12
Human resources––20%outside top 12
Administration & office––10%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.

Confluent is named by 106 companies in job postings and Apache Kafka by 4,727; 0 name both. (Breaknorm, 30 October 2026, https://breaknorm.co/compare/apache-kafka-vs-confluent)
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 Confluent: questions

Which is more used, Apache Kafka or Confluent?

By companies naming it in their own job postings, Apache Kafka (4,727) over Confluent (106). By website-and-DNS footprint, Confluent (135 vs 0), because its scripts and mail records sit on many small company sites.

Who chooses Apache Kafka?

46% of Apache Kafka companies have 2 to 200 employees, against 38% for Confluent. 28% of Apache Kafka companies have over 1,000 employees, against 42% for Confluent.

Do companies run both?

0 companies name both in their postings, usually Apache Kafka in marketing and Confluent 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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