Best Event Streaming Platforms in 2026
Updated
In short: Lightstreamer is ranked #1 of 22 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Aiven for Apache Kafka and Confluent Cloud. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Aiven for Apache Kafka. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka at $0.11/mo.
Event streaming platforms support the movement and handling of event data, and their listed capabilities can help you compare options for your workflows. Lightstreamer, Aiven for Apache Kafka, and Confluent Cloud lead the ranking, followed by Redpanda and RisingWave. Compared on deployment model and delivery guarantee, the entries also distinguish themselves through connectors, supported client languages, and maximum retention. Consider whether schema registry and stream processing fit the way you work with event data. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing offer additional points to weigh alongside your integration, retention, and deployment needs.
22 event streaming platforms ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Lightstreamer iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Deployment model: hybridStream processing: Yes
- 2 Aiven for Apache Kafka No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$35/mo Deployment model: hybridMaximum retention: 3 daysStream processing: Yes
- 3 Confluent Cloud No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$385/mo Deployment model: cloudStream processing: Yes
- 4 Apache Pulsar No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment model: self-hostedStream processing: Yes
- 5 DataStax Astra Streaming No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment model: cloudStream processing: Yes
- 6 Redpanda No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Deployment model: hybridStream processing: Yes
- 7 RisingWave No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8$0.23/mo Deployment model: hybridStream processing: Yes
- 8 Amazon Kinesis Data Streams No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Deployment model: cloudMaximum retention: 365 daysStream processing: Yes
- 9 Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6$0.11/mo Deployment model: cloudStream processing: Yes
- 10 Instaclustr Managed PostgreSQL No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 Deployment model: hybridStream processing: Yes
- 11 Keen Product Analytics iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4$149/mo
- 12 Pravega No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment model: self-hostedStream processing: Yes
- 13 Solace PubSub+ Event Broker No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment model: hybridStream processing: No
- 14 StreamNative No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4$73/mo Deployment model: cloudStream processing: Yes
- 15 Wisembly No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4€79/mo
- 16 Alibaba Cloud Message Queue for Apache Kafka No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: cloudStream processing: Yes
- 17 Apache Kafka No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: self-hostedStream processing: Yes
- 18 Apache RocketMQ No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: self-hostedStream processing: Yes
- 19 AutoMQ No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: hybridMaximum retention: 90 daysStream processing: Yes
- 20 Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Streaming No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: cloudMaximum retention: 7 daysStream processing: Yes
- 21 Hadron No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Deployment model: self-hostedStream processing: Yes
- 22 StreamHouse No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Deployment model: hybridStream processing: Yes
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which event streaming platform is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Lightstreamer is ranked #1 of 22 with a score of 6.9. Aiven for Apache Kafka is second and Confluent Cloud third.
How many of these have a free plan?
4 of the 22 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.11/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.