Apache Pulsar vs Confluent:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Apache Pulsar had more branded searches than Confluent among event streaming platforms worldwide. Apache Pulsar had about 4,400 branded searches, while Confluent had 230. Apache Pulsar made up 5.1% of all event streaming platform searches we track, and Confluent accounted for 0.27%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about event streaming platforms, Confluent appeared in four of the five answers and Apache Pulsar in three. Confluent was mentioned before Apache Pulsar in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Apache Pulsar, about 19 searches for every 1 for Confluent
Who does AI mention more?
Confluent, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Apache Pulsar in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Confluent, named ahead of Apache Pulsar in 4 of 4 answers
Follow Apache Pulsar vs Confluent and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top event streaming platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Confluent was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the 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. Confluent was listed before Apache Pulsar in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which event streaming platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best event streaming platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best event streaming platform for live event data?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“event streaming platforms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“real time event streaming”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Apache Pulsar or Confluent more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apache Pulsar and Confluent by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight event streaming platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Apache Pulsar, Confluent. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apache Kafka | Apache Flink | Amazon Kinesis | Apache Pulsar | Google Pub/Sub | Azure Event Hubs | Redpanda | Confluent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 50.3% | 22.5% | 13.7% | 6.7% | 3.7% | 2% | 0.83% | 0.27% |
| Nov 2025 | 54.6% | 20% | 12.2% | 6% | 4% | 2.2% | 0.9% | 0.19% |
| Dec 2025 | 54.2% | 19.8% | 12.1% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 0.96% | 0.41% |
| Jan 2026 | 50% | 22.4% | 13.6% | 6.7% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 1% | 0.26% |
| Feb 2026 | 51.9% | 23.3% | 11.5% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 1% | 0.24% |
| Mar 2026 | 54.4% | 20% | 12.1% | 5.9% | 4% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.27% |
| Apr 2026 | 54.5% | 19.9% | 12.1% | 5.9% | 4% | 2.1% | 1.1% | 0.34% |
| May 2026 | 56.1% | 20.5% | 11.6% | 5% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 1.1% | 0.26% |
| Jun 2026 | 51.2% | 22.9% | 12.9% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 2.4% | 1.3% | 0.21% |
| Jul 2026 | 53.2% | 19.4% | 14.2% | 5.8% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 1.3% | 0.18% |
| Aug 2026 | 54.6% | 20% | 12.1% | 5.9% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0.22% |
| Sep 2026 | 57.6% | 21.1% | 10.5% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.27% |
How has the Apache Pulsar and Confluent comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Apache Pulsar was ahead of Confluent in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apache Pulsar’s share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide moved from 6.7% to 5.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.1K to 4.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Confluent’s share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide held steady at 0.27%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 330 to 230.
How did search popularity change for event streaming platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Apache Pulsar lost share of searches among event streaming platforms worldwide, from 5.9% to 5.1%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Confluent worldwide fell 30.3% over 12 measured months, from 330 to 230 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apache Pulsar’s and Confluent’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Apache Pulsar
1 branded search term
- apache pulsar
Confluent
4 branded search terms
- confluent data
- confluent event
- confluent event streaming
- confluent streaming
Other head-to-heads among event streaming platforms
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.