Stackable
Wedel open-source data platform on Kubernetes that includes Apache Kafka among its data apps
Quick Overview
| Company | Stackable GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Event Streaming Platforms |
| Headquarters | Wedel, Germany |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | Kubernetes on-premises or in the cloud; managed plan hosting location not stated |
| Open Source | Open source (non-restrictive licences only) |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes - Kubernetes, on-premises or in the cloud |
| Main Features | Apache Kafka, Trino, Spark, NiFi, Airflow, OpenSearch, stackablectl, Managed Data Lakehouse |
| Pricing | Open-source platform free; commercial plans Subscription, Managed Data Lakehouse and Expertise with no prices listed; 30-day free trial for the Managed Data Lakehouse |
| Best For | Platform teams that want to self-host Kafka with other data apps on Kubernetes |
| Replaces | Confluent Platform |
Detailed Review
Stackable is a German open-source data platform that runs on Kubernetes. Stackable GmbH is located at Thomas-Mann-Strasse 8, 22880 Wedel, Germany, according to the imprint.
Kafka is one of many data apps in the platform. Facts on this page were checked on 3 November 2026.
Kafka inside a wider platform in Event Streaming Platforms
The Stackable Data Platform includes Apache Kafka among its open-source data apps and runs on Kubernetes on-premises or in the cloud. Other apps include Trino, Apache Spark, Apache NiFi, Apache Airflow and OpenSearch.
Licensing
Stackable states that only software with non-restrictive open-source licensing is included in the Stackable Data Platform.
Quick start and plans
A quick start works with stackablectl on a Kubernetes cluster. The commercial plans are Subscription, Managed Data Lakehouse and Expertise, and the Managed Data Lakehouse has a 30-day free trial.
Limitations to Consider
Kafka is one of many data apps in the Stackable platform rather than a dedicated streaming product. Commercial prices are not published and the hosting location of the managed plan is not stated. Teams that want a dedicated hosted Kafka service can compare Aiven.
Who Should Use Stackable
Platform teams comfortable with Kubernetes that want to run Kafka with other open-source data tools under their own control.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Open-source platform free to use
- Kafka alongside Trino, Spark and NiFi
- Runs on-premises or in the cloud
- Only non-restrictive open-source licences
- German company
Cons
- Kafka is not a dedicated product
- No published commercial prices
- Managed plan hosting not stated
- Requires Kubernetes skills
Alternatives to Stackable
Other European event streaming platforms worth comparing before you decide:
Aiven
Finland · Managed Apache Kafka in EU regions, with a free plan
Axual
Netherlands · Governed Kafka platform on an EU sovereign cloud
Lenses
United Kingdom · Developer workspace and replication layer for Kafka
Ververica
Germany · Apache Flink stream processing from the Munich company
See all European event streaming platforms or compare them directly against Confluent Platform on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Stackable Data Platform includes Apache Kafka among its open-source data apps.
The open-source data platform is free to use; commercial plans have no listed prices.
The open-source platform runs on Kubernetes, on-premises or in the cloud.