Apache Pulsar vs Kafka:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Kafka had more branded searches than Apache Pulsar among streaming data platforms worldwide. Kafka had about 5,400 branded searches, while Apache Pulsar had 4,400. Kafka made up 8% of all streaming data platform searches we track, and Apache Pulsar accounted for 6.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about streaming data platforms, Kafka appeared in all five answers and Apache Pulsar in two. Kafka was mentioned before Apache Pulsar in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Kafka, about 23% more searches than Apache Pulsar
Who does AI mention more?
Kafka, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Kafka, named ahead of Apache Pulsar in every answer
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Top streaming data platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kafka appeared in all five answers. Apache Pulsar was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kafka was listed before Apache Pulsar in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Kafka1st
Confluent2nd
Kinesis3rd
Redpanda4th
Pub/Sub5th
Apache Flink6th
Apache Pulsar7th
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which streaming data platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best streaming data platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best streaming data platform for event data?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“streaming data platforms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“event streaming platform”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Apache Pulsar or Kafka more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apache Pulsar and Kafka by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight streaming data platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Kafka, Apache Pulsar. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Pub/Sub | Apache Flink | Kafka | Apache Pulsar | Kinesis | Azure Event Hubs | Redpanda | Confluent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 37.4% | 30.6% | 11.2% | 9.1% | 7.5% | 2.7% | 1.1% | 0.37% |
| Nov 2025 | 41.9% | 28.1% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 6.8% | 3% | 1.3% | 0.27% |
| Dec 2025 | 45.5% | 24.9% | 11.1% | 7.4% | 6% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 0.51% |
| Jan 2026 | 41.9% | 28.1% | 10.2% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 3% | 1.3% | 0.33% |
| Feb 2026 | 43.1% | 28.9% | 10.5% | 7% | 5.7% | 3.1% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 46.7% | 25.6% | 9.3% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.35% |
| Apr 2026 | 51.8% | 23.1% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 2.4% | 1.3% | 0.4% |
| May 2026 | 53.1% | 23.7% | 8.6% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 53.1% | 23.7% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 0.22% |
| Jul 2026 | 55.3% | 20.2% | 7.4% | 6% | 7.4% | 2.2% | 1.4% | 0.19% |
| Aug 2026 | 51.4% | 23% | 8.4% | 6.8% | 5.6% | 2.5% | 2% | 0.25% |
| Sep 2026 | 49.3% | 27% | 8% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.34% |
How has the Apache Pulsar and Kafka comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Kafka was ahead of Apache Pulsar 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 streaming data platforms worldwide moved from 9.1% to 6.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.1K to 4.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kafka’s share of searches among streaming data platforms worldwide moved from 11.2% to 8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 5.4K.
How did search popularity change for streaming data platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Apache Pulsar worldwide fell 45.7% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 4.4K in September 2026.
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 branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apache Pulsar’s and Kafka’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
Kafka
1 branded search term
- kafka streaming
Other head-to-heads among streaming data platforms
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