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Apache Kafka vs Redis comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

Apache Kafka
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
84
Ranking in other categories
Streaming Analytics (7th)
Redis
Average Rating
8.8
Number of Reviews
19
Ranking in other categories
NoSQL Databases (7th), In-Memory Data Store Services (1st), Vector Databases (4th)
 

Mindshare comparison

Apache Kafka and Redis aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. Apache Kafka is designed for Streaming Analytics and holds a mindshare of 0.3%, up 0.0% compared to last year.
Redis, on the other hand, focuses on In-Memory Data Store Services, holds 9.0% mindshare, down 16.2% since last year.
Streaming Analytics
In-Memory Data Store Services
 

Featured Reviews

Eyob Alemu - PeerSpot reviewer
Significant cost savings with real-time processing and fast recovery
We use Kafka for a stage event-driven process from a process perspective. Our platform is an ID platform, so after registration data is received, it has to be stored from various registration locations. The process includes stages like quality checking, consistency, format, biometric data checking…
Yaseer Arafat - PeerSpot reviewer
Unmatched Performance and Scalability for Modern Applications
Redis has room for improvement in a few areas. Enhanced tools for managing and monitoring clusters would be beneficial, as would built-in security mechanisms like advanced encryption and granular access controls. Simplifying setup and configuration could make Redis more accessible to new users. Introducing more enterprise-grade features, such as better multi-tenancy support and improved backup and restore capabilities, would also be advantageous. For the next release, it would be great to see enhanced cluster management tools, native multi-region supports for better data redundancy, integrated analytics for deeper insights, AI and ML integration features, and improved developer experience through enhanced SDKs and tools.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most valuable feature is the support for a high volume of data."
"The use of Kafka's logging mechanism has been extremely beneficial for us, as it allows us to sequence messages, track pointers, and manage memory without having to create multiple copies."
"As a software developer, I have found Apache Kafka's support to be the most valuable...The solution is easy to integrate with any of our systems."
"It is a stable solution...A lot of my experience indicates that Apache Kafka is scalable."
"We appreciate the ability to persistently and quickly write data, as well as the flexibility to customize it for multiple customers. Additionally, we like the ability to retain data within Apache Kafka and use features, such as time travel to access past customer data. The connection with other systems, such as Apache Kafka and IBM DB2."
"The most valuable feature of Apache Kafka is Kafka Connect."
"Kafka can process messages in real-time, making it useful for applications that require near-instantaneous processing."
"I like Kafka's flexibility, stability, reliability, and robustness."
"Redis is good for distributed caching management."
"The online interface is very fast and easy to use."
"The best thing about Redis is its ability to handle large amounts of data without frequently hitting the database. You can store data in temporary memory, especially for high-volume data."
"The solution's technical support team is good...The solution's initial setup process was straightforward."
"Redis is better tested and is used by large companies. I haven't found a direct alternative to what Redis offers. Plus, there are a lot of support and learning resources available, which help you use Redis efficiently."
"Redis provides an easy setup and operation process, allowing users to quickly connect and use it without hassle."
"The product offers fast access to my database."
"It is particularly efficient for cloud-based storage and operations."
 

Cons

"Apache Kafka could improve data loss and compatibility with Spark."
"The ability to connect the producers and consumers must be improved."
"The solution can improve its cloud support."
"The price for the enterprise version is quite high. It would be better to have a lower price."
"Stability of the API and the technical support could be improved."
"The solution could always add a few more features to enhance its usage."
"Maintaining and configuring Apache Kafka can be challenging, especially when you want to fine-tune its behavior."
"While the solution scales well and easily, you need to understand your future needs and prep for the peaks."
"The development of clusters could improve. Additionally, it would be helpful if it was integrated with Amazon AWS or Google Cloud."
"I would prefer it if there was more information available about Redis. That would make it easier for new beginners. Currently, there is a lack of resources."
"There are some features from MongoDB that I would like to see included in Redis to enhance its overall efficiency, such as the ability to perform remote behaviour. MongoDB is more efficient in handling updates than deletions and is quicker in processing updates, but it can be slower regarding deletions. This can sometimes pose a challenge, especially when dealing with large datasets or frequent data manipulations that involve deletions. In such cases, I often rewrite columns or update values instead of directly deleting data, as it can be more efficient."
"The only thing is the lack of a GUI application. There was a time when we needed to resolve an issue in production. If we had a GUI, it would have been easier."
"Redis could improve its efficiency in handling locally stored data, not just Amazon Cloud or Google Cloud."
"Sometimes, we use Redis as a cluster, and the clusters can sometimes suffer some issues and bring some downtime to your application."
"The solution's pricing for a local installation is very expensive."
"It's actually quite expensive."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I was using the product's free version."
"Apache Kafka is an open-source solution and there are no fees, but there are fees associated with confluence, which are based on subscription."
"This is an open-source solution and is free to use."
"Apache Kafka is open-source and can be used free of charge."
"It's a premium product, so it is not price-effective for us."
"Apache Kafka is free."
"The cost can vary depending on the provider and the specific flavor or version you use. I'm not very knowledgeable about the pricing details."
"Apache Kafka is an open-sourced solution. There are fees if you want the support, and I would recommend it for enterprises. There are annual subscriptions available."
"The tool is open-source. There are no additional costs."
"Redis is not an overpriced solution."
"We saw an ROI. It made the processing of our transactions faster."
"Redis is an open-source product."
"Redis is an open-source solution. There are not any hidden fees."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
31%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Retailer
5%
Financial Services Firm
21%
Computer Software Company
15%
Educational Organization
7%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What are the differences between Apache Kafka and IBM MQ?
Apache Kafka is open source and can be used for free. It has very good log management and has a way to store the data used for analytics. Apache Kafka is very good if you have a high number of user...
What do you like most about Apache Kafka?
Apache Kafka is an open-source solution that can be used for messaging or event processing.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Apache Kafka?
We use Apache Kafka, which is open-source, so we don't have fees. I can't comment on ownership costs as I am not responsible for that domain.
What do you like most about Redis?
Redis is better tested and is used by large companies. I haven't found a direct alternative to what Redis offers. Plus, there are a lot of support and learning resources available, which help you u...
What needs improvement with Redis?
Redis has room for improvement in a few areas. Enhanced tools for managing and monitoring clusters would be beneficial, as would built-in security mechanisms like advanced encryption and granular a...
What is your primary use case for Redis?
My primary use case for Redis is to enhance the performance of our web applications by using it as a caching layer. By caching frequently accessed data, we reduce the load on our primary databases,...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Redis Enterprise
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Uber, Netflix, Activision, Spotify, Slack, Pinterest
1. Twitter 2. GitHub 3. StackOverflow 4. Pinterest 5. Snapchat 6. Craigslist 7. Digg 8. Weibo 9. Airbnb 10. Uber 11. Slack 12. Trello 13. Shopify 14. Coursera 15. Medium 16. Twitch 17. Foursquare 18. Meetup 19. Kickstarter 20. Docker 21. Heroku 22. Bitbucket 23. Groupon 24. Flipboard 25. SoundCloud 26. BuzzFeed 27. Disqus 28. The New York Times 29. Walmart 30. Nike 31. Sony 32. Philips
Find out what your peers are saying about Apache Kafka vs. Redis and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.