Brandwave

How popular isApache Flink?

In September 2026, people searched for Apache Flink by name about 18,100 times worldwide, a 33.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 27% of all global streaming data platform searches, placing Apache Flink second out of eight platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about streaming data platforms, Apache Flink appeared in four of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Apache Flink is the second most searched of 8 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Pub/SubShare of searches 49.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  2. Apache FlinkShare of searches 27%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  3. KafkaShare of searches 8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. Apache PulsarShare of searches 6.6%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
  5. KinesisShare of searches 5.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top streaming data platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apache Flink was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Apache Flink is the sixth most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Kafka1st
  2. Confluent2nd
  3. Kinesis3rd
  4. Redpanda4th
  5. Pub/Sub5th
  6. Apache Flink6th
  7. Apache Pulsar7th
  8. Azure Event Hubs8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Kafka5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kinesis5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Redpanda5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Confluent5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pub/Sub4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Apache Flink4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Apache Pulsar2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Azure Event Hubs2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about streaming data platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which streaming data platforms compete with Apache Flink?

Apache Flink against streaming data platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Pub/Sub, Apache Flink, Kafka, Apache Pulsar, Kinesis. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPub/SubApache FlinkKafkaApache PulsarKinesisAzure Event HubsRedpandaConfluent
Oct 202537.4%30.6%11.2%9.1%7.5%2.7%1.1%0.37%
Nov 202541.9%28.1%10.3%8.4%6.8%3%1.3%0.27%
Dec 202545.5%24.9%11.1%7.4%6%3.3%1.2%0.51%
Jan 202641.9%28.1%10.2%8.3%6.8%3%1.3%0.33%
Feb 202643.1%28.9%10.5%7%5.7%3.1%1.3%0.3%
Mar 202646.7%25.6%9.3%7.6%6.2%2.8%1.5%0.35%
Apr 202651.8%23.1%8.4%6.9%5.6%2.4%1.3%0.4%
May 202653.1%23.7%8.6%5.8%4.7%2.5%1.3%0.3%
Jun 202653.1%23.7%8.7%5.8%4.7%2.5%1.3%0.22%
Jul 202655.3%20.2%7.4%6%7.4%2.2%1.4%0.19%
Aug 202651.4%23%8.4%6.8%5.6%2.5%2%0.25%
Sep 202649.3%27%8%6.6%5.4%1.9%1.5%0.34%

  1. 1.Pub/Sub

    49.3%

    Held 1st. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2.1 points.

  2. 2.Apache Flink

    27%

    Held 2nd. 18.1K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +4 points.

  3. 3.Kafka

    8%

    Held 3rd. 5.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  4. 4.Apache Pulsar

    6.6%

    Held 4th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  5. 5.Kinesis

    5.4%

    Held 5th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.Azure Event Hubs

    1.9%

    Held 6th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  7. 7.Redpanda

    1.5%

    Held 7th. 1K estimated branded searches, -23.1% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  8. 8.Confluent

    0.34%

    Held 8th. 230 estimated branded searches, +43.8% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Apache Flink and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Apache Flink

13 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Apache Flink changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Apache Flink worldwide fell from 27.1K to 18.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apache Flink’s share of searches among streaming data platforms worldwide decreased from 30.6% to 27%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apache Flink’s share of searches among streaming data platforms worldwide peaked at 30.6% in October 2025 and was lowest at 20.2% in July 2026.

How did search popularity change for streaming data platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Apache Flink gained share of searches among streaming data platforms worldwide, from 23% to 27%.

  2. In September 2026, Pub/Sub lost share of searches among streaming data platforms worldwide, from 51.4% to 49.3%.

  3. In September 2026, Azure Event Hubs lost share of searches among streaming data platforms worldwide, from 2.5% to 1.9%.

  4. In September 2026, Redpanda lost share of searches among streaming data platforms worldwide, from 2% to 1.5%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Apache Pulsar worldwide fell 45.7% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 4.4K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kafka worldwide fell 45.5% over 12 measured months, from 9.9K to 5.4K in September 2026.

How are Apache Flink’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apache Flink’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • apache flink

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Apache Flink compete?

Apache Flink is ranked in three competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Event streaming platforms2nd of 819.1%Show ranking
Streaming data platforms2nd of 827%Shown above
Streaming analytics platforms1st of 851.2%Show ranking
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