# Confluent, IBM Event Streams vs Aiven for Apache Kafka Comparison

| | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.4 out of 5 | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.3 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 114 | 13 | 250 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Enterprise (35.1% of reviews) | Enterprise (50.0% of reviews) | Mid-Market (45.9% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | Starting at $200.00 Per Month | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Confluent

Pros:
- Cloud Computing (1 reviews)
- Cloud Services (1 reviews)

Cons:
- Cost Estimation (1 reviews)
- Expensive (1 reviews)

### IBM Event Streams

Pros:
- Ease of Use (1 reviews)
- User Interface (1 reviews)


### Aiven for Apache Kafka

Pros:
- Setup Ease (29 reviews)
- Ease of Use (24 reviews)

Cons:
- Expensive (28 reviews)
- Poor Documentation (8 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.7 (88 reviews) | 8.3 (12 reviews) | 8.4 (191 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.4 (89 reviews) | 9.6 (12 reviews) | 8.6 (194 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.2 (39 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.5 (107 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.1 (39 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.5 (89 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.3 (82 reviews) | 8.3 (11 reviews) | 8.5 (152 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.5 (36 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.9 (80 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.0 (89 reviews) | 9.0 (12 reviews) | 8.0 (187 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Confluent

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

Yes

### IBM Event Streams

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Aiven for Apache Kafka

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Startup

Price: Starting at $200.00 Per Month

Description: Aiven’s entry-level managed Kafka plans, equipped with 3 dedicated virtual machines for high-availability.

Key Features:
- 3 dedicated virtual machines (VM)
- 1 CPU per VM
- 2 GB RAM per VM

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/aiven-for-apache-kafka/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Event Stream Processing

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Confluent** | 8.7/10 | 68 |
| **IBM Event Streams** | 9.3/10 | 8 |
| **Aiven for Apache Kafka** | 8.3/10 | 130 |

#### Data

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Data Processing** | 8.8 (63 reviews) | 9.4 (8 reviews) | 8.4 (105 reviews) | 
| **Data Sources** | 8.8 (59 reviews) | 9.4 (8 reviews) | 8.4 (104 reviews) | 
| **Integration** | 8.8 (63 reviews) | 9.5 (7 reviews) | 8.3 (110 reviews) | 
| **Real-Time Processing** | 9.0 (64 reviews) | 10.0 (7 reviews) | 8.5 (114 reviews) | 

#### Analytics

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Reporting & Analytics** | 8.3 (57 reviews) | 8.3 (8 reviews) | 7.9 (100 reviews) | 

### Big Data Processing and Distribution

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Confluent** | 8.3/10 | 23 |
| **IBM Event Streams** | N/A | N/A |
| **Aiven for Apache Kafka** | N/A | N/A |

#### Database

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Real-Time Data Collection** | 9.0 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Distribution** | 8.7 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Lake** | 8.3 (15 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Integrations

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Hadoop Integration** | 8.3 (12 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spark Integration** | 8.2 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Machine Scaling** | 8.2 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Preparation** | 7.8 (16 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spark Integration** | 8.2 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Processing

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Cloud Processing** | 8.2 (16 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workload Processing** | 8.3 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Big Data Analytics

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Confluent** | 8.3/10 | 26 |
| **IBM Event Streams** | N/A | N/A |
| **Aiven for Apache Kafka** | N/A | N/A |

#### Data Transformation

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Real-Time Analytics** | 8.9 (22 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Querying** | 8.4 (20 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Connectivity

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Hadoop Integration** | 8.2 (17 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spark Integration** | 8.6 (19 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Source Analysis** | 8.3 (22 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Lake** | 8.1 (19 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Operations

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Data Visualization** | 8.3 (22 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Workflow** | 7.9 (21 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Governed Discovery** | 8.2 (18 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Embedded Analytics** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Notebooks** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Big Data

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Confluent** | N/A | N/A |
| **IBM Event Streams** | N/A | N/A |
| **Aiven for Apache Kafka** | N/A | N/A |

#### Building Reports

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Data Transformation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Modeling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **WYSIWYG Report Design** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integration APIs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Mobile User Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customization ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Internationalization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sandbox / Test Environments** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Breadth of Partner Applications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Event Stream Processing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/event-stream-processing)

**Unique to Confluent (3):** [Stream Analytics Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/stream-analytics), [Big Data Processing And Distribution Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/big-data-processing-and-distribution), [Big Data Analytics Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/big-data-analytics)




---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Confluent | IBM Event Streams | Aiven for Apache Kafka | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 34.2% | 25.0% | 30.7% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 30.6% | 25.0% | 45.9% | 
| **Enterprise** | 35.1% | 50.0% | 23.4% | 

### By Industry

#### Confluent

- **Computer Software:** 21.8%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 15.5%
- **Financial Services:** 13.6%
- **Banking:** 5.5%
- **Retail:** 5.5%
- **Telecommunications:** 4.5%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 2.7%
- **Automotive:** 1.8%
- **Semiconductors:** 1.8%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 1.8%
- **Other:** 25.5%

#### IBM Event Streams

- **Information Technology and Services:** 25.0%
- **Banking:** 16.7%
- **Consulting:** 8.3%
- **Textiles:** 8.3%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 8.3%
- **Events Services:** 8.3%
- **Computer Software:** 8.3%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 8.3%
- **Airlines/Aviation:** 8.3%

#### Aiven for Apache Kafka

- **Computer Software:** 15.4%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 13.7%
- **Financial Services:** 11.5%
- **Retail:** 5.3%
- **Gambling & Casinos:** 3.5%
- **Oil & Energy:** 2.6%
- **Transportation/Trucking/Railroad:** 2.2%
- **Food Production:** 2.2%
- **Internet:** 2.2%
- **Logistics and Supply Chain:** 2.2%
- **Other:** 39.2%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Confluent

- [Cloudera Data Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera-cloudera-data-platform/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (136 reviews)
- [Lenses](https://www.g2.com/products/lenses/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (17 reviews)
- [Apache Kafka](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-kafka/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (131 reviews)
- [Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (90 reviews)
- [Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (22 reviews)
- [Splunk Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/products/splunk-enterprise/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (432 reviews)
- [Databricks](https://www.g2.com/products/databricks/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (774 reviews)
- [Snowflake](https://www.g2.com/products/snowflake/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (747 reviews)
- [Alteryx](https://www.g2.com/products/alteryx/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (809 reviews)
- [Teradata Vantage](https://www.g2.com/products/teradata-teradata-vantage/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (373 reviews)

### Alternatives to IBM Event Streams

- [SAS Viya](https://www.g2.com/products/sas-sas-viya/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (798 reviews)
- [Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (90 reviews)
- [Red Hat OpenShift Streams for Apache Kafka](https://www.g2.com/products/red-hat-openshift-streams-for-apache-kafka/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (26 reviews)
- [Apache Kafka](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-kafka/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (131 reviews)
- [Tray.ai](https://www.g2.com/products/tray-ai/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (158 reviews)
- [Spark Streaming](https://www.g2.com/products/spark-streaming/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (40 reviews)
- [Google Cloud Dataflow](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-dataflow/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (45 reviews)
- [Ably Realtime](https://www.g2.com/products/ably-realtime/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (67 reviews)
- [Nexla](https://www.g2.com/products/nexla/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (63 reviews)
- [RudderStack](https://www.g2.com/products/rudderstack/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (52 reviews)

### Alternatives to Aiven for Apache Kafka

- [Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (22 reviews)
- [Lenses](https://www.g2.com/products/lenses/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (17 reviews)
- [Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (90 reviews)
- [Instaclustr Managed Kafka](https://www.g2.com/products/instaclustr-managed-kafka/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (11 reviews)
- [SAS Viya](https://www.g2.com/products/sas-sas-viya/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (798 reviews)
- [Apache Kafka](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-kafka/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (131 reviews)
- [Tray.ai](https://www.g2.com/products/tray-ai/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (158 reviews)
- [IBM StreamSets](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-streamsets/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (117 reviews)
- [Spark Streaming](https://www.g2.com/products/spark-streaming/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (40 reviews)
- [Redpanda Streaming](https://www.g2.com/products/redpanda-streaming/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (29 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Confluent

No discussions available for this product.

### IBM Event Streams

No discussions available for this product.

### Aiven for Apache Kafka

- Title: [What are the characteristics of Apache Kafka?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-the-characteristics-of-apache-kafka) — 1 comment *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Key characteristics of Apache Kafka  are:
- highly scalable
- distributed 
- industry leading and highly maintained open-source technology 
-..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/confluent-vs-ibm-event-streams-vs-aiven-for-apache-kafka)