Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Apache Kafka vs VMware Tanzu Data Solutions comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.3
Apache Kafka boosts efficiency and insights with customizable, cost-effective data processing, enhancing analytics and decision-making in many applications.
Sentiment score
7.2
Organizations praise VMware Tanzu for high performance, favorable pricing, minimal downtimes, and value-driven long-term engagement benefits.
I have seen a return on investment with VMware Tanzu Data Solutions because of its speed and the robustness of the environment.
VMware vSphere | Horizon View | Citrix Virtual Apps | Microsoft Intune | Azure | SCCM | Windows 365 at Adecco
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
5.8
Apache Kafka support relies on community help; paid options like Confluent offer better but occasionally slow assistance.
Sentiment score
6.6
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions' support is highly rated, with efficient problem resolution and valuable guidance, despite occasional delays on complex issues.
There is plenty of community support available online.
The Apache community provides support for the open-source version.
Technology Leader at eTCaaS
I want to receive good technical support, which I only need once a month or every six months, and the experience has been unsatisfactory.
Senior Manager at Timestamp, SA
If anything happens in terms of technicalities and I raise a ticket, they address it immediately, irrespective of the SLA agreement.
Sr. Manager at STI INFOTECH PVT LTD
Customer support for VMware Tanzu Data Solutions has been good with me and with VMware, including Broadcasts.
VMware vSphere | Horizon View | Citrix Virtual Apps | Microsoft Intune | Azure | SCCM | Windows 365 at Adecco
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.7
Apache Kafka excels in scalable data handling, efficiently managing growth despite occasional challenges in adjustments and resource management.
Sentiment score
7.3
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions offers mixed scalability, performing well for some users but facing bottlenecks and hardware challenges for others.
Customers have not faced issues with user growth or data streaming needs.
Technology Leader at eTCaaS
I need to enable my solution with high availability and scalability.
Data Architect at Ascendion
Most of our functions or jobs are queued due to that.
Sr Data Analytics Consultant at Capgemini
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.6
Apache Kafka is stable and reliable, though configuration complexities and evolving APIs may pose occasional challenges.
Sentiment score
7.0
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions is generally stable, with improvements in version 8.2, though some face issues in specific scenarios.
This feature of Apache Kafka has helped enhance our system stability when handling high volume data.
DevOps Engineer
Apache Kafka is stable.
Technology Leader at eTCaaS
Apache Kafka is a mature product and can handle a massive amount of data in real time for data consumption.
Data Architect at Ascendion
I have faced stability issues, mainly due to the storage my organization has, though I am not sure if it's specifically due to the tool.
Sr Data Analytics Consultant at Capgemini
 

Room For Improvement

Users seek easier setup, improved UI, better documentation, monitoring, and memory management for Apache Kafka, addressing complexity and scalability.
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions struggles with pricing, installation, modular features, and big data integration, frustrating users.
The performance angle is critical, and while it works in milliseconds, the goal is to move towards microseconds.
Technology Leader at eTCaaS
Scaling up continues to be a challenge, though it is much easier now than it was in the beginning.
Senior Manager at Timestamp, SA
A more user-friendly interface and better management consoles with improved documentation could be beneficial.
They are losing business.
Sr. Manager at STI INFOTECH PVT LTD
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions can be improved as it is better and faster for administration and clusters, Dockers, and Kubernetes.
VMware vSphere | Horizon View | Citrix Virtual Apps | Microsoft Intune | Azure | SCCM | Windows 365 at Adecco
 

Setup Cost

Enterprise users weigh open-source Apache Kafka's low cost against expensive cloud solutions like Confluent, requiring careful cost analysis.
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions offers an open-source platform with cost-effective licensing for added features and support options.
The open-source version of Apache Kafka results in minimal costs, mainly linked to accessing documentation and limited support.
Technology Leader at eTCaaS
Its pricing is reasonable.
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for VMware Tanzu Data Solutions is that it is a bit expensive.
VMware vSphere | Horizon View | Citrix Virtual Apps | Microsoft Intune | Azure | SCCM | Windows 365 at Adecco
 

Valuable Features

Apache Kafka offers scalable, reliable real-time streaming, integration with Spark, robust architecture, and strong community support for customization.
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions offers multi-cloud management, Kubernetes integration, scalability, and reliable performance with robust data transformation and messaging features.
Apache Kafka is particularly valuable for managing high levels of transactions.
Senior Manager at Timestamp, SA
Apache Kafka is effective when dealing with large volumes of data flowing at high speeds, requiring real-time processing.
Apache Kafka acts as a broker and supports my data integration process by sitting in between systems.
Data Architect at Ascendion
The principal aspect is the creation of Kubernetes clusters.
VMware vSphere | Horizon View | Citrix Virtual Apps | Microsoft Intune | Azure | SCCM | Windows 365 at Adecco
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions has no limitation. We can meet the maximum customer requirements.
Sr. Manager at STI INFOTECH PVT LTD
The product is not complex; I do not have to create stored procedures, functions, or views.
Sr Data Analytics Consultant at Capgemini
 

Categories and Ranking

Apache Kafka
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
90
Ranking in other categories
Streaming Analytics (7th)
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
85
Ranking in other categories
Database Development and Management (5th), Relational Databases Tools (12th), Data Warehouse (10th), Message Queue (MQ) Software (5th)
 

Mindshare comparison

Apache Kafka and VMware Tanzu Data Solutions aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. Apache Kafka is designed for Streaming Analytics and holds a mindshare of 4.2%, up 2.4% compared to last year.
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions, on the other hand, focuses on Data Warehouse, holds 4.0% mindshare, up 3.9% since last year.
Streaming Analytics Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Apache Kafka4.2%
Apache Flink10.9%
Databricks9.0%
Other75.9%
Streaming Analytics
Data Warehouse Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions4.0%
Snowflake10.2%
Teradata9.0%
Other76.8%
Data Warehouse
 

Featured Reviews

Bruno da Silva - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Manager at Timestamp, SA
Have worked closely with the team to deploy streaming and transaction pipelines in a flexible cloud environment
The interface of Apache Kafka could be significantly better. I started working with Apache Kafka from its early days, and I have seen many improvements. The back office functionality could be enhanced. Scaling up continues to be a challenge, though it is much easier now than it was in the beginning.
Karthik Shivaram - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Manager at STI INFOTECH PVT LTD
Improved multi-cloud data management has simplified operations and supports seamless Kubernetes
From my perspective, the biggest challenge with VMware right now is the pricing. To be very honest, in many cases I find myself recommending alternative solutions instead of VMware. Even if those alternatives come with a bit more complexity, customers are often more willing to accept that than the current VMware pricing model. In the past, VMware used a socket-based licensing model, which was easier for customers to understand and budget for. Now the shift to a core-based licensing model has significantly increased costs for many environments, especially for organizations running modern high-core CPUs. One positive aspect of the new model is that VMware has bundled several components together. For example, earlier when deploying vSphere, customers also had to purchase vCenter separately for management. Now multiple components are packaged into a single SKU, which simplifies some aspects of procurement and deployment. While this consolidation has its benefits, the overall licensing and commercial costs remain very high. Pricing is not the only issue. I believe Broadcom also needs to reconsider its strategy in light of the current market conditions. The approach they are taking may be strategic from a business perspective, but from what I see in the field, it is leading to lost opportunities. Many customers who previously relied on VMware are now actively exploring alternative virtualization platforms. I’m not sure where this direction will ultimately lead, but based on my experience, it is already affecting adoption. Since you’ve been trying to reach me for some time—and we also had a discussion a couple of years ago—I hope this feedback helps Broadcom understand the current sentiment in the market and potentially make adjustments. Another important concern is the way features are bundled. In many cases, customers only need basic virtualization and high availability capabilities. However, the current packaging often includes additional features that they may not need. A good analogy is that if a customer only needs an entry-level car, we shouldn’t be forced to sell them a Rolls-Royce. VMware could benefit from adopting a more modular or à la carte licensing model, where customers can choose only the components they truly require. For example, if a customer only needs core virtualization functionality, they should be able to purchase just that. This would allow partners and solution providers to better align solutions with customer requirements and position VMware more competitively in the market. Another challenge I want to highlight is the pricing model based on U.S. dollars and the way multi-year licensing is handled. In many enterprise and government projects, customers prefer to commit to three-year or five-year licenses and pay the full amount upfront. However, in approximately 20% of the deals I work on, we lose opportunities because VMware only provides dollar-based pricing for the first year. When it comes to the following years, the contract requires renewals annually rather than allowing a fixed multi-year upfront payment. This approach is particularly problematic for government and public sector customers. Many of them are ready and willing to pay for three or five years in advance, but the current VMware model does not support that structure effectively. Because pricing is tied to the U.S. dollar and subject to yearly adjustments, VMware does not lock in pricing for the full term. From a customer’s perspective, this introduces uncertainty and makes procurement more complicated. Ideally, if a price is quoted—for example, $100 per year—it should remain consistent across a multi-year agreement. Customers would be comfortable committing to a five-year term if the price were fixed and predictable. Unfortunately, that flexibility is currently not available across VMware products, whether it is vSphere, VMware Tanzu solutions, or other offerings. For large enterprise environments, one-year commitments are usually not practical. Many enterprise customers prefer longer-term agreements for budgeting and procurement reasons. Even when they are willing to accept the higher cost associated with the core-based licensing model, the lack of a clear multi-year upfront option often becomes a deal-breaker.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Streaming Analytics solutions are best for your needs.
884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
19%
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
5%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Outsourcing Company
7%
Computer Software Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business32
Midsize Enterprise18
Large Enterprise49
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business30
Midsize Enterprise11
Large Enterprise49
 

Questions from the Community

What are the differences between Apache Kafka and IBM MQ?
Apache Kafka is open source and can be used for free. It has very good log management and has a way to store the data used for analytics. Apache Kafka is very good if you have a high number of user...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Apache Kafka?
Its pricing is reasonable. It's not always about cost, but about meeting specific needs.
What needs improvement with Apache Kafka?
The long-term data storage feature in Apache Kafka depends on the setting, but I believe the maximum duration is seven days.
How does IBM MQ compare with VMware RabbitMQ?
IBM MQ has a great reputation behind it, and this solution is very robust with great stability. It is easy to use, simple to configure and integrates well with our enterprise ecosystem and protocol...
What do you like most about VMware RabbitMQ?
RabbitMQ provides access to SDKs for development and the ability to raise and log tickets if we encounter issues. We can integrate RabbitMQ using various languages like Java or Python using the pro...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Greenplum, Pivotal Greenplum, VMware RabbitMQ, VMware Tanzu GemFire, VMware Postgres
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Uber, Netflix, Activision, Spotify, Slack, Pinterest
General Electric, Conversant, China CITIC Bank, Aridhia, Purdue University
Find out what your peers are saying about Apache Kafka vs. VMware Tanzu Data Solutions and other solutions. Updated: June 2024.
884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.