Link copied to clipboard # Amazon Kinesis Data Streams vs Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) Comparison - What are their main differences? Share [ Export ](/compare/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/export.csv) Amazon Kinesis Data StreamsAmazon Managed Streaming...[+ Add Product](#) Reviews **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** [ 4.3/5(90) ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews#reviews) **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)**[ 4/5(24) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews#reviews) Pricing **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** No pricing available **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** No pricing available **Pricing Insights** from reviews Time to Implement **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** Not enough reviews yet **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** Not enough reviews yet Return on Investment **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** Not enough reviews yet **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** Not enough reviews yet Perceived Cost **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** $$$$$ **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** $$$$$ Average Discount **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** Not enough reviews yet **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** Not enough reviews yet Pros & Cons **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** [ Real-time Data (2) ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2306703&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Real-Time Processing (2) ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2306712&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Difficult Setup (2) ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2306736&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Expensive (2) ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2306700&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** [ Cloud Services (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2484265&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Maintenance Ease (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2484324&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Expensive (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2484303&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Limitations (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2484287&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Integrations **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-redshift.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Amazon Redshift ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-redshift/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_cacdec8b8edeace9b3c89e0c2cded695/amazon-s3-glacier.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Amazon S3 Glacier ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-s3-glacier/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/aws-lambda.jpg "Product Avatar Image") AWS Lambda ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-lambda/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/integrations) **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_cacdec8b8edeace9b3c89e0c2cded695/amazon-elastic-container-service-amazon-ecs.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Amazon Elastic Container... ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-elastic-container-service-amazon-ecs/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_6f7467a9095411d659210c508d7bb82a/amazon-elastic-kubernetes-service-amazon-eks.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Amazon Elastic Kubernetes... ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-elastic-kubernetes-service-amazon-eks/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-redshift.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Amazon Redshift ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-redshift/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_809aa88d3571ee805a47d8fb156ba412/apache-kafka.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Apache Kafka ](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-kafka/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/integrations) Screenshots **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** ![Amazon Kinesis Data Streams screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1249563/HIW-KDS.png) **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** ![Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1249564/HIW-MSK.png) Ratings Meets Requirements **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** 9.1 9.153 **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** 8.9 8.916 Ease of Use **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** 8.4 8.453 **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** 8.5 8.520 Ease of Setup **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** 8.6 8.620 **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** 8.6 8.611 Ease of Admin **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** 8.4 8.418 **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** 8.7 8.79 Quality of Support **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** 8.6 8.648 **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** 9.1 9.120 Has the product been a good partner in doing business? **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** 8.6 8.618 **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** 8.1 8.19 Product Direction (% positive) **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams** 8.1 8.144 **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)** 8.2 8.219 Features Event Stream Processing[Hide 5 FeaturesShow 5 Features](javascript:void(0);) 9.1 21 8.7 19 Data Data Processing 9.1(won by 0.2) 20 8.9 18 Data Sources 9.2(won by 0.3) 18 8.9 16 Integration 8.8(won by 0.7) 20 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors) 8.1 17 Real-Time Processing 9.4(won by 0.5) 20 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors) 8.9 18 Analytics Reporting & Analytics 8.9(won by 0.1) 12 8.8 13 Show 1 feature category with incomplete data Big Data[Hide 17 FeaturesShow 17 Features](javascript:void(0);) Not enough data Not enough data Building Reports Data Transformation Not enough data Not enough data Data Modeling Not enough data Not enough data WYSIWYG Report Design Not enough data Not enough data Integration APIs Not enough data Not enough data Real-Time Data Not enough data Not enough data Real-Time Data Not enough data Not enough data Third-Party Integrations Not enough data Not enough data Third-Party Integrations Not enough data Not enough data Platform Mobile User Support Not enough data Not enough data Customization Not enough data Not enough data User, Role, and Access Management Not enough data Not enough data Internationalization Not enough data Not enough data Sandbox / Test Environments Not enough data Not enough data Performance and Reliability Not enough data Not enough data Breadth of Partner Applications Not enough data Not enough data Mobile Access Not enough data Not enough data Metadata Management Not enough data Not enough data User Insights Reviewers' Company Size [![Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5383be31b099738701f86724a8b5cf9a/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams.svg "Amazon Kinesis Data Streams")](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews) Amazon Kinesis Data Streams Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 27.2% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 37.0% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 35.8% [![Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5383be31b099738701f86724a8b5cf9a/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk.svg "Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)")](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews) Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 45.5% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 36.4% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 18.2% Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 27.2% 45.5% Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 37.0% 36.4% Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 35.8% 18.2% Reviewers' Industry [![Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5383be31b099738701f86724a8b5cf9a/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams.svg "Amazon Kinesis Data Streams")](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews) Amazon Kinesis Data Streams Computer Software 14.8% Information Technology and Services 13.6% Financial Services 12.3% Consumer Services 4.9% Banking 4.9% Other 49.4% [![Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5383be31b099738701f86724a8b5cf9a/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk.svg "Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)")](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews) Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) Computer Software 27.3% Information Technology and Services 18.2% Financial Services 9.1% Education Management 9.1% Consulting 4.5% Other 31.8% FAQs ## Amazon Kinesis Data Streams vs Amazon Managed Streaming... FAQs Generated using AI Last updated: August 15, 2026 ### What is the difference between Amazon Kinesis Data Streams vs Amazon Managed Streaming...? Amazon Kinesis Data Streams is rated higher for real-time data processing and scalability, while Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) is favored for managed Kafka compatibility and operational simplicity. | [Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews) | [Amazon Managed Streaming...](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews) | | --- | --- | | 4.3/5 (90 reviews) | 4.0/5 (24 reviews) | | Mid-Market | Small-Business | | 8.6 | 8.6 | | 8.6 | 9.1 | | Real-time data processing and scalability | Managed Kafka compatibility and operational simplicity | ### How do the pricing models of Amazon Kinesis Data Streams and Amazon Managed Streaming... compare? Amazon Kinesis Data Streams is rated higher for price satisfaction, indicating reviewers consider it the stronger value compared to Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka. - **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams:** In recent reviews, many cite cost-effectiveness and pay-as-you-go pricing as advantages, though some note costs can escalate with increased usage. - **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka:** Reviewers frequently mention higher costs for small workloads and note that running dedicated Kafka brokers can become expensive, but appreciate the operational effort saved. - **Switching reasons:** Several reviewers highlight moving to Amazon Kinesis Data Streams for its lower operational overhead and more predictable pricing for real-time streaming needs. ### What are the best alternatives to Amazon Kinesis Data Streams and Amazon Managed Streaming...? The top 3 alternatives to Amazon Kinesis Data Streams and Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka are Confluent, Apache Kafka, and Aiven for Apache Kafka. | Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews) | 4.3/5 (90 reviews) | Mid-Market | Cost-effective, pay-as-you-go pricing | Real-time data processing and scalability | | [Amazon Managed Streaming...](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews) | 4.0/5 (24 reviews) | Small-Business | Higher cost for small workloads, operational simplicity | Managed Kafka compatibility and operational simplicity | | [Confluent](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews) | 4.4/5 (114 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Enterprise-grade streaming platform | | [Apache Kafka](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-kafka/reviews) | 4.5/5 (132 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Open-source, high-throughput event streaming | | [Aiven for Apache Kafka](https://www.g2.com/products/aiven-for-apache-kafka/reviews) | 4.3/5 (248 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Managed Kafka with flexible deployment | ### Which Stream Analytics features should I prioritize when comparing Amazon Kinesis Data Streams and Amazon Managed Streaming...? Buyers should prioritize real-time data processing, scalability, integration capabilities, operational simplicity, and cost management when comparing Amazon Kinesis Data Streams and Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka. - **Real-time data processing:** Amazon Kinesis Data Streams is cited for real-time data (2 all-time mentions), real-time processing (2), and real-time streaming (2); Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka is noted for reliability and scalability (1 each). - **Scalability:** Amazon Kinesis Data Streams is frequently praised for scalability (multiple recent reviews); Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka is also cited for scalability and scaling (1 each). - **Integration capabilities:** Amazon Kinesis Data Streams integrates with AWS Lambda (1 all-time mention); Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka is compatible with Apache Kafka (7 all-time mentions). - **Operational simplicity:** Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka is highlighted for maintenance ease and management ease (1 each); Amazon Kinesis Data Streams is noted for requiring more hands-on management and a steeper learning curve (2 all-time mentions for resource-intensive learning). - **Cost management:** Both products have reviewer-cited concerns about cost, with Amazon Kinesis Data Streams noted as cost-effective but potentially expensive if not monitored (2 all-time mentions for expensive), and Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka cited as expensive for small workloads (1 all-time mention). ### What are the pros and cons of Amazon Kinesis Data Streams vs Amazon Managed Streaming...? Amazon Kinesis Data Streams is strongest for real-time data processing and scalability, while Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka excels in managed Kafka compatibility and operational simplicity. - **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams strengths:** Real-time data processing (2 all-time mentions), scalability (multiple recent reviews), integration with AWS services, and data retention/replay capabilities. - **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams trade-offs:** Steep learning curve and complexity (2 all-time mentions for resource-intensive learning), difficult setup (2), and cost management challenges (2 for expensive). - **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka strengths:** Managed Kafka compatibility, operational simplicity (1 all-time mention for management ease), high availability, and integration with AWS ecosystem. - **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka trade-offs:** Higher cost for small workloads (1 all-time mention for expensive), limited control compared to self-managed Kafka (1), and some service limitations (1). ### Is Amazon Kinesis Data Streams or Amazon Managed Streaming... better for small businesses? Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka is the better fit for small businesses, as its largest reviewer segment is Small-Business and reviewers highlight its operational simplicity. - **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams:** Largest segment is Mid-Market; reviewers note its scalability and real-time processing, but mention a steeper learning curve and cost management considerations for smaller teams. - **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers appreciate the ease of management and reduced operational overhead, making it attractive for smaller organizations. ### Which Stream Analytics platform has better integrations? Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka is favored for integrations, with more reviewer-cited integration mentions than Amazon Kinesis Data Streams. - **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams:** Integrates with AWS Lambda (recent reviews, 1 all-time mention). - **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka:** Integrates with Apache Kafka (7 all-time mentions), supporting a wide range of Kafka-compatible tools and connectors. ### How do Amazon Kinesis Data Streams and Amazon Managed Streaming... compare on customer support? Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka leads on Quality of Support with a 0.5-point advantage over Amazon Kinesis Data Streams (9.1 vs 8.6). - **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams:** Reviewers describe support as helpful and responsive, with several citing positive experiences with AWS customer support. - **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka:** Reviewers consistently praise the quality of support, noting knowledgeable teams, proactive assistance, and strong after-sales service. ### Which is easier to implement, Amazon Kinesis Data Streams or Amazon Managed Streaming...? Amazon Kinesis Data Streams and Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka are rated at parity for Ease of Setup (8.6 each), with both products receiving similar reviewer feedback on implementation. - **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams:** Reviewers note that setup can be complex, especially for those new to streaming architectures, but appreciate the helpful documentation and AWS integration. - **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka:** Reviewers highlight simplified setup compared to self-managed Kafka, with minimal code changes required and a clean AWS Console interface, though some mention a learning curve for Kafka concepts. Alternatives **Amazon Kinesis Data Streams Alternatives** ![Confluent](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_b087379a1153e7d513f37c83481c8ced/confluent.png "Confluent") [ Confluent ](/products/confluent/reviews) ![Apache Kafka](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_809aa88d3571ee805a47d8fb156ba412/apache-kafka.jpg "Apache Kafka") [ Apache Kafka ](/products/apache-kafka/reviews) ![Google Cloud Dataflow](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0c51d2c2e5f85fe45126eb818f748267/google-cloud-dataflow.png "Google Cloud Dataflow") [ Google Cloud Dataflow ](/products/google-cloud-dataflow/reviews) ![Spark Streaming](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_2986a90abde9fb618861f2052b30d907/spark-streaming.jpg "Spark Streaming") [ Spark Streaming ](/products/spark-streaming/reviews) **Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) Alternatives** ![Confluent](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_b087379a1153e7d513f37c83481c8ced/confluent.png "Confluent") [ Confluent ](/products/confluent/reviews) ![Aiven for Apache Kafka](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/17ecc18568d89176504b094004a98292/aiven-for-apache-kafka.svg "Aiven for Apache Kafka") [ Aiven for Apache Kafka ](/products/aiven-for-apache-kafka/reviews) ![Tealium](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/ab5785ba5f2b55a17cd0b0784fd34381/tealium-2026-07-21.svg "Tealium") [ Tealium ](/products/tealium-2026-08-12/reviews) ![Spotfire Analytics](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/d4e0e320d2c90324c1d66baebd1e456e/spotfire-analytics.svg "Spotfire Analytics") [ Spotfire Analytics ](/products/spotfire-analytics/reviews) ## Amazon Kinesis Data Streams vs Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) easier to use and administer. However, reviewers felt that Amazon Kinesis Data Streams was easier to do business with overall. Finally, reviewers felt that the products are equally easy to set up. - Reviewers felt that Amazon Kinesis Data Streams meets the needs of their business better than Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK). - When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) is the preferred option. - For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) over Amazon Kinesis Data Streams.