Apache Kafka and Confluent FAQs

Confluent Platform is a complete, self-managed, enterprise-grade distribution of Apache Kafka®.

It enables you to connect, process, and react to your data in real-time using the foundational platform for data in motion, which means you can continuously stream data from across your organization to power rich customer experiences and data-driven operations.

See the product page for Confluent Platform or its documentation page.

There is no such thing as "Confluent Kafka." Apache Kafka® is a project owned by the Apache Software Foundation. Confluent is one of the companies that contribute to its development.

Confluent provides a managed Kafka service called Confluent Cloud as well as on-premises software called Confluent Platform, which includes Kafka.

Components in Confluent Platform use a mix of Apache 2.0, Confluent Community License, and an enterprise license.

A developer license allows full use of Confluent Platform features free of charge for an indefinite duration. However, the license is limited to a single broker configuration per cluster. The developer license gives developers the freedom to try the Confluent Platform commercial features available in a non-production setting.

A trial (evaluation) license allows a free trial of commercial features in a production setting, and expires after 30 days.

For full details of the licenses and which components use which license, please refer to the documentation.

New signups to Confluent Cloud receive $400 to spend within during their first 30 days.

Many components in Confluent Platform are either open source (Apache 2.0), or source available (Confluent Community License). These include:

• Apache Kafka®
  • Kafka Connect
  • Kafka Streams
• ksqlDB
• Confluent Schema Registry
• Confluent REST Proxy
• Some of the connectors for Kafka Connect

Other components of Confluent require an enterprise license. They can be used under a 30-day trial, or indefinitely under the developer license, when used with a single broker cluster in a non-production setting.

For full details of the licenses and terms please see the documentation.