Link copied to clipboard

# Confluent vs IBM Event Streams Comparison - What are their main differences?

Share
[
Export
](/compare/confluent/ibm-event-streams/export.csv)

ConfluentIBM Event Streams[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**Confluent** [

4.4/5(113)

](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews#reviews)

**IBM Event Streams** [

4.3/5(13)

](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-event-streams/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**Confluent**
Free Trial

No pricing available

**IBM Event Streams**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Confluent**
3 months

Based on 6 responses

**IBM Event Streams**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**Confluent**
13 months

Based on 7 responses

**IBM Event Streams**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**Confluent**
$$$$$

**IBM Event Streams**
Not enough reviews yet

Average Discount

**Confluent**
9%

**IBM Event Streams**
Not enough reviews yet

Pros & Cons

**Confluent**
[
Cloud Computing (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2311123&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Cloud Services (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2311173&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Cost Estimation (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2311235&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Expensive (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2311185&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**IBM Event Streams**
[
Ease of Use (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-event-streams/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2241463&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
User Interface (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-event-streams/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2241460&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Screenshots

**Confluent**
 ![Confluent 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/201434/Screen-Shot-2022-02-15-at-2.54.15-PM.png)

**IBM Event Streams**
No screenshot available

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**Confluent**

8.7

8.788

**IBM Event Streams**

8.3

8.312

Ease of Use

**Confluent**

8.4

8.489

**IBM Event Streams**

9.6

9.612

Ease of Setup

**Confluent**

8.2

8.239

**IBM Event Streams**
Not enough data

Ease of Admin

**Confluent**

8.1

8.139

**IBM Event Streams**
Not enough data

Quality of Support

**Confluent**

8.3

8.382

**IBM Event Streams**

8.3

8.311

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Confluent**

8.5

8.536

**IBM Event Streams**
Not enough data

Product Direction (% positive)

**Confluent**

9.0

9.089

**IBM Event Streams**

9.0

9.012

Features

Event Stream Processing[Hide 5 FeaturesShow 5 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.7

68

9.3

8

Data

Data Processing

8.7

63

9.4(won by 0.7)

8

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Data Sources

8.8

59

9.4(won by 0.6)

8

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Integration

8.8

63

9.5(won by 0.7)

7

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Real-Time Processing

9.0

64

10.0(won by 1.0)

7

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Analytics

Reporting & Analytics

8.2

57

8.3(won by 0.1)

8

Big Data Processing and Distribution[Hide 10 FeaturesShow 10 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.3

23

Not enough data

Database

Real-Time Data Collection

9.0(won by default)

18

Not enough data

Data Distribution

8.7(won by default)

17

Not enough data

Data Lake

8.3(won by default)

15

Not enough data

Integrations

Hadoop Integration

8.3(won by default)

12

Not enough data

Spark Integration

8.2(won by default)

14

Not enough data

Platform

Machine Scaling

8.2(won by default)

17

Not enough data

Data Preparation

7.8(won by default)

16

Not enough data

Spark Integration

8.2(won by default)

14

Not enough data

Processing

Cloud Processing

8.2(won by default)

16

Not enough data

Workload Processing

8.3(won by default)

17

Not enough data

Big Data Analytics[Hide 49 FeaturesShow 49 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.3

26

Not enough data

Data Transformation

Real-Time Analytics

8.9(won by default)

22

|

Verified

Not enough data

Data Querying

8.4(won by default)

20

|

Verified

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Predictive Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Visual Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Connectivity

Hadoop Integration

8.2(won by default)

17

|

Verified

Not enough data

Spark Integration

8.6(won by default)

19

|

Verified

Not enough data

Multi-Source Analysis

8.3(won by default)

22

|

Verified

Not enough data

Data Lake

8.1(won by default)

19

|

Verified

Not enough data

Real-Time Data

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Capture and Transfer

Not enough data

Not enough data

Trend Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

What-if Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

Statistical Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Blending

Not enough data

Not enough data

Ad hoc Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Operations

Data Visualization

8.3(won by default)

22

|

Verified

Not enough data

Data Workflow

7.9(won by default)

21

|

Verified

Not enough data

Governed Discovery

8.2(won by default)

18

|

Verified

Not enough data

Embedded Analytics

Feature Not Available

Not enough data

Notebooks

Feature Not Available

Not enough data

Data Discovery

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Data Warehousing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Connectors

Not enough data

Not enough data

Ad hoc Reporting

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Reports

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Escalation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Forecasting

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Migration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Transformation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Cleansing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Synchronization

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Dashboard Creation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Extraction

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

SSL Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

No-Code

Not enough data

Not enough data

High Volume Processing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Database Support

Not enough data

Not enough data

Search/Filter

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

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

[![Confluent](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_b087379a1153e7d513f37c83481c8ced/confluent.png "Confluent")](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews)

Confluent

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

33.3%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

31.5%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

35.1%

[![IBM Event Streams](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_32ed3d24b93d61880532053231351dc6/ibm-event-streams.png "IBM Event Streams")](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-event-streams/reviews)

IBM Event Streams

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

25.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

25.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

50.0%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

33.3%

25.0%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

31.5%

25.0%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

35.1%

50.0%

Reviewers' Industry

[![Confluent](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_b087379a1153e7d513f37c83481c8ced/confluent.png "Confluent")](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews)
Confluent

Computer Software

21.8%

Information Technology and Services

15.5%

Financial Services

13.6%

Banking

5.5%

Retail

5.5%

Other

38.2%

[![IBM Event Streams](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_32ed3d24b93d61880532053231351dc6/ibm-event-streams.png "IBM Event Streams")](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-event-streams/reviews)
IBM Event Streams

Information Technology and Services

25.0%

Banking

16.7%

Consulting

8.3%

Textiles

8.3%

Health, Wellness and Fitness

8.3%

Other

33.3%

FAQs

## Confluent vs IBM Event Streams FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 17, 2026

### What is the difference between Confluent vs IBM Event Streams?

Confluent stands out for its higher G2 rating, larger review base, and reviewer-cited strengths in managed Kafka operations and integrations, while IBM Event Streams is praised for its user-friendly UI and ease of setup.

| [Confluent](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews) | [IBM Event Streams](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-event-streams/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.4/5 (114 reviews) | 4.3/5 (13 reviews) |
| — | — |
| 8.2 | — |
| 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Managed Kafka operations, integrations | User-friendly UI, ease of setup |

### How do the pricing models of Confluent and IBM Event Streams compare?

Confluent is perceived as more expensive as data volume grows, while IBM Event Streams does not have recent reviewer sentiment on pricing.

- **Confluent:** In recent reviews, several reviewers note that Confluent's pricing increases significantly with higher data volumes and that some features are only available in the Enterprise edition.
- **IBM Event Streams:** No recent reviewer sentiment on pricing is available.
- **Switching reasons:** Reviewers mention switching from Confluent due to cost concerns and the need for more affordable solutions as data scales.

### What are the best alternatives to Confluent and IBM Event Streams?

The top three alternatives to Confluent and IBM Event Streams are SAS Viya, Cloudera, and Lenses.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Confluent](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews) | 4.4/5 (114) | — | Pricing increases with data volume | Managed Kafka operations, integrations |
| [IBM Event Streams](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-event-streams/reviews) | 4.3/5 (13) | — | — | User-friendly UI, ease of setup |
| [SAS Viya](https://www.g2.com/products/sas-sas-viya/reviews) | 4.3/5 (818) | Small-Business | — | Advanced analytics capabilities |
| [Cloudera](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera/reviews) | 4.1/5 (136) | Enterprise | — | Enterprise data management |
| [Lenses](https://www.g2.com/products/lenses/reviews) | 4.2/5 (17) | — | — | Kafka monitoring and observability |

### Which Event Stream Processing features should I prioritize when comparing Confluent and IBM Event Streams?

Buyers should prioritize integrations, ease of setup, quality of support, scalability, and user interface when comparing Confluent and IBM Event Streams.

- **Integrations:** Confluent is frequently cited for its connectors and integration capabilities (1 all-time mention); IBM Event Streams is noted for smooth integration in recent reviews.
- **Ease of Setup:** Confluent scores 8.2; IBM Event Streams receives positive qualitative feedback for rapid deployment and setup.
- **Quality of Support:** Both products score 8.3 on Quality of Support.
- **Scalability:** Confluent is praised for elastic, fully managed clusters; IBM Event Streams is highlighted for autoscaled traffic handling and high-volume event support.
- **User Interface:** IBM Event Streams is specifically praised for its user-friendly UI in recent reviews.

### What are the pros and cons of Confluent vs IBM Event Streams?

Confluent's headline strength is managed Kafka operations and integrations, while IBM Event Streams is recognized for its user-friendly UI and ease of setup.

- **Confluent strengths:** Managed Kafka operations, connectors, real-time streaming, scalability, and integration capabilities (each with 1 all-time mention).
- **Confluent trade-offs:** Pricing increases with data volume, some features only in Enterprise edition, steep learning curve, and limited out-of-the-box debugging tools (each with 1 all-time mention).
- **IBM Event Streams strengths:** User-friendly UI, ease of setup, smooth integration, and scalability for high-volume events (recent reviews).
- **IBM Event Streams trade-offs:** Some advanced capabilities require integration with other IBM products, and limited out-of-the-box features in dedicated environments (recent reviews).

### Is Confluent or IBM Event Streams better for small businesses?

SAS Viya is the best fit for small businesses among the top alternatives, while neither Confluent nor IBM Event Streams has a dominant small-business segment.

- **Confluent:** No dominant small-business segment; reviewers note a steep learning curve and cost concerns for smaller teams.
- **IBM Event Streams:** No dominant small-business segment; reviewers highlight ease of setup and user-friendly UI, which can benefit small teams.

### Which Event Stream Processing platform has better integrations?

Confluent is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing its connectors and integration capabilities.

- **Confluent:** In recent reviews, reviewers highlight connectors, data integration, and easy integrations (each with 1 all-time mention).
- **IBM Event Streams:** Recent reviews mention smooth integration and modules for integration, but no all-time mention counts are available.

### How do Confluent and IBM Event Streams compare on customer support?

Confluent and IBM Event Streams are rated equally on Quality of Support, both scoring 8.3, indicating parity in reviewer satisfaction.

- **Confluent:** Reviewers consistently praise knowledgeable and responsive support, with several citing helpful documentation and developer advocacy resources.
- **IBM Event Streams:** Reviewers note helpful support experiences and positive interactions, with some highlighting the ease of getting started and ongoing assistance.

### Which is easier to implement, Confluent or IBM Event Streams?

Confluent and IBM Event Streams are rated similarly on Ease of Setup, with Confluent scoring 8.2 and IBM Event Streams receiving strong qualitative feedback for rapid deployment.

- **Confluent:** Reviewers describe setup as straightforward, with many noting that clusters can be provisioned and ready for use in 1-2 days, though some mention a learning curve for advanced features.
- **IBM Event Streams:** Reviewers highlight ease of deployment, especially on OpenShift, and praise the user-friendly UI for simplifying initial setup.

### Which product has better Integration?

Confluent is favored for Integration, with reviewers citing connectors and integration capabilities.

- **Confluent:** Integration is a top-cited feature in recent reviews, with 1 all-time mention for connectors and integrations; reviewers highlight ease of integrating with various platforms and software solutions.
- **IBM Event Streams:** Reviewers mention smooth integration and modules for integration in recent reviews, but no all-time mention counts are available.

Alternatives

**Confluent Alternatives**

 ![Cloudera](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/dcfb9e6879febb34cef773ddde921835/cloudera.svg "Cloudera")

[
Cloudera
](/products/cloudera/reviews)

 ![Lenses](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/00711a899e586e752321ee33312a1509/lenses.svg "Lenses")

[
Lenses
](/products/lenses/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)

 ![Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5383be31b099738701f86724a8b5cf9a/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams.svg "Amazon Kinesis Data Streams")

[
Amazon Kinesis Data Streams
](/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews)

**IBM Event Streams Alternatives**

 ![SAS Viya](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/bd7a361df879327ee92c1d048aada28e/sas-sas-viya.svg "SAS Viya")

[
SAS Viya
](/products/sas-sas-viya/reviews)

 ![Informatica Data Integration and Engineering](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/eaeeee6c0a3c3277745fafafb5e2f6c9/informatica-data-integration-and-engineering.svg "Informatica Data Integration and Engineering")

[
Informatica Data Integration and Engineering
](/products/informatica-data-integration-and-engineering/reviews)

 ![Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5383be31b099738701f86724a8b5cf9a/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams.svg "Amazon Kinesis Data Streams")

[
Amazon Kinesis Data Streams
](/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews)

 ![Red Hat OpenShift Streams for Apache Kafka](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0eda0307970c9db3cea54f2c0a371777/red-hat-openshift-streams-for-apache-kafka.jpeg "Red Hat OpenShift Streams for Apache Kafka")

[
Red Hat OpenShift Streams...
](/products/red-hat-openshift-streams-for-apache-kafka/reviews)

## Confluent vs IBM Event Streams

- Reviewers felt that Confluent meets the needs of their business better than IBM Event Streams.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, Confluent and IBM Event Streams provide similar levels of assistance.
- When assessing product direction, Confluent and IBM Event Streams received similar ratings from our reviewers.