Brandwave

How popular isApache Pulsar?

In September 2026, people searched for Apache Pulsar by name about 4,400 times worldwide, a 45.7% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 5.1% of all global event streaming platform searches, placing Apache Pulsar fourth out of eight platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about event streaming platforms, Apache Pulsar appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Apache Pulsar is the fourth most searched of 8 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Apache KafkaShare of searches 57.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. Apache FlinkShare of searches 21.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  3. Amazon KinesisShare of searches 10.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. Apache PulsarShare of searches 5.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. Google Pub/SubShare of searches 2.8%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th

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Top event streaming platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apache Pulsar was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Apache Pulsar is the fifth most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Apache Kafka1st
  2. Confluent2nd
  3. Amazon Kinesis3rd
  4. Redpanda4th
  5. Apache Pulsar5th
  6. Apache Flink6th
  7. Google Pub/Sub7th
  8. Azure Event Hubs8th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Apache Kafka5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Amazon Kinesis5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Apache Flink4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Redpanda4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Confluent4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Apache Pulsar3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Pub/Sub3 of 5Named in 2 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 event streaming platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which event streaming platforms compete with Apache Pulsar?

Apache Pulsar against event streaming platforms worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthApache KafkaApache FlinkAmazon KinesisApache PulsarGoogle Pub/SubAzure Event HubsRedpandaConfluent
Oct 202550.3%22.5%13.7%6.7%3.7%2%0.83%0.27%
Nov 202554.6%20%12.2%6%4%2.2%0.9%0.19%
Dec 202554.2%19.8%12.1%5.9%3.9%2.6%0.96%0.41%
Jan 202650%22.4%13.6%6.7%3.6%2.4%1%0.26%
Feb 202651.9%23.3%11.5%5.7%3.8%2.5%1%0.24%
Mar 202654.4%20%12.1%5.9%4%2.2%1.2%0.27%
Apr 202654.5%19.9%12.1%5.9%4%2.1%1.1%0.34%
May 202656.1%20.5%11.6%5%3.3%2.2%1.1%0.26%
Jun 202651.2%22.9%12.9%5.6%3.7%2.4%1.3%0.21%
Jul 202653.2%19.4%14.2%5.8%3.8%2.1%1.3%0.18%
Aug 202654.6%20%12.1%5.9%3.2%2.2%1.8%0.22%
Sep 202657.6%21.1%10.5%5.1%2.8%1.5%1.2%0.27%

  1. 1.Apache Kafka

    57.6%

    Held 1st. 49.5K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +3 points.

  2. 2.Apache Flink

    21.1%

    Held 2nd. 18.1K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.

  3. 3.Amazon Kinesis

    10.5%

    Held 3rd. 9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.7 points.

  4. 4.Apache Pulsar

    5.1%

    Held 4th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  5. 5.Google Pub/Sub

    2.8%

    Held 5th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  6. 6.Azure Event Hubs

    1.5%

    Held 6th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  7. 7.Redpanda

    1.2%

    Held 7th. 1K estimated branded searches, -23.1% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  8. 8.Confluent

    0.27%

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

Compare popularity between Apache Pulsar and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Apache Pulsar

10 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Apache Pulsar worldwide fell from 8.1K to 4.4K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apache Pulsar’s share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide decreased from 6.7% to 5.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apache Pulsar’s share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide peaked at 6.7% in October 2025 and was lowest at 5% in May 2026.

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

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Apache Kafka gained share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide, from 54.6% to 57.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Apache Flink gained share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide, from 20% to 21.1%.

  3. In September 2026, Amazon Kinesis lost share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide, from 12.1% to 10.5%.

  4. In September 2026, Apache Pulsar lost share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide, from 5.9% to 5.1%.

  5. In September 2026, Azure Event Hubs lost share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide, from 2.2% to 1.5%.

  6. In September 2026, Redpanda lost share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide, from 1.8% to 1.2%.

How are Apache Pulsar’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apache Pulsar’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 pulsar

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns Apache Pulsar?

Apache Pulsar is owned by Apache Software Foundation. Brandwave also tracks Apache APISIX and Apache Airflow, owned by the same company, worldwide.

Do you work for Apache Pulsar? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Where does Apache Pulsar compete?

Apache Pulsar is ranked in two 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 platforms4th of 85.1%Shown above
Streaming data platforms4th of 86.6%Show ranking
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