What if your 'free' or 'managed' Apache Kafka® setup is costing you more than you think?

On the surface, running Apache Kafka in-house or choosing a hosted service like MSK looks simple—and even cost-effective. But hidden costs tell a different story.

Hosted Kafka (MSK): "Managed" in name, but not in practice. Your team still handles upgrades, rebalancing, and troubleshooting-leading to surprise bills, hidden overhead, and risk.

Confluent Cloud: A truly fully managed streaming platform that reduces complexity, risk, and total cost. With auto-scaling, seamless upgrades, 24/7 monitoring, and built-in security, Confluent Cloud helps you save up to 60% or more compared to DIY or hosted alternatives, while freeing up your team to innovate.

Download this one-page Comparison Checklist to see the differences at a glance and learn why Confluent delivers more than you thought.