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Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka
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What Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka is
Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (MSK) runs Apache Kafka infrastructure on AWS for teams building streaming data applications. It provisions and configures clusters, replaces failed servers, coordinates patches and upgrades, and manages monitoring and scaling. Provisioned clusters let customers choose broker and storage options; Serverless clusters adjust resources to workload needs. Kafka’s open source client protocol remains compatible, so existing Kafka applications and tools can work without application code changes.
MSK integrates with Amazon S3, Amazon Redshift, Amazon Managed Service for Apache Flink, AWS Lambda, AWS Glue Schema Registry, and AWS Database Migration Service. Clusters span multiple Availability Zones, with three as the default, and the service level agreement guarantees three 9s of availability. Security options include IAM access control, SASL/SCRAM or mutual TLS for Provisioned clusters, and encryption at rest and in transit.
CloudWatch includes over 50 default metrics at no additional cost. Provisioned clusters can also export JMX and node metrics for Prometheus-compatible monitoring tools, while broker logs can go to CloudWatch Logs, S3, or Data Firehose. MSK is a cloud service available through API, Linux, and web platforms, with client language support for Java, Python, Go, JavaScript, and .NET.
Who it suits
MSK suits developers and DevOps or platform engineers building streaming data applications on AWS who want AWS to manage Kafka operations. It can also suit teams that need to choose between provisioned capacity and resource adjustment based on workload.
What it does well
- Manages provisioning, failed server replacement, patches, upgrades, monitoring, and scaling.
- Provisioned and Serverless cluster options support different resource management approaches.
- Kafka client protocol compatibility allows applications to work without code changes.
- Clusters span multiple Availability Zones, with three as the default.
- Default CloudWatch metrics include over 50 metrics at no additional cost.
What to know first
- There is no free plan.
- Enhanced CloudWatch metrics incur standard CloudWatch rates.
- Storage, data processing, and some connectivity have separate charges.
Limits
There is no free plan. Enhanced CloudWatch metrics are billed at standard CloudWatch rates, and storage, data processing, and some connectivity can incur separate charges.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| MSK Connect | Hourly connector usage, billed at one-second resolution; example rate is $0.11 per hour per MCU. · Each MCU provides 1 vCPU and 4 GB memory; total cost depends on worker count and size | $0.11 a month |
| MSK Provisioned — Standard brokers | Hourly broker usage, billed at one-second resolution; example rate is $0.204 per hour for a kafka.m7g.large in US East (N. Virginia). · Storage, optional provisioned storage throughput, data transfer, and private connectivity are charged separately | $0.20 a month |
| MSK Replicator | Example Replicator rate is $0.30 per hour; data processed and, for cross-Region replication, data transfer are charged separately. · Cross-Region and same-Region replication supported; other charges may apply, including private connectivity | $0.30 a month |
| MSK Provisioned — Express brokers | Hourly broker usage, billed at one-second resolution; example rate is $0.408 per hour for an express.m7g.large in US East (N. Virginia). · Also charged for data ingested and storage; data transfer and private connectivity may incur separate charges | $0.41 a month |
| MSK Serverless | Example US East rate is $0.75/cluster-hr; additional example rates are $ 0.0015/partition-hr, $0.10/GB-in, $0.05/GB-out, and $0.10/GB-month for storage. · Usage charges vary by cluster-hours, partition-hours, data written and read, and storage; data transfer may be additional | $0.75 a month |
As aws.amazon.com lists them, read 3 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Amazon MSK website.
- Choose the AWS API, Linux, or web platform route that fits your work.
- Choose a Provisioned cluster and select broker and storage options, or choose Serverless for resources that adjust to workload needs.
- Select a pricing option, such as Provisioned, Serverless, MSK Connect, or MSK Replicator.
- Connect Kafka applications using the compatible Apache Kafka client protocol.
Verdict
Choose Amazon MSK if you are building Kafka based streaming applications on AWS and want managed cluster operations with Provisioned or Serverless options. It may be a less suitable fit if you need a free plan or want to avoid separate usage charges for items such as storage, data processing, connectivity, or enhanced metrics.
Questions
Does Amazon MSK have a free plan?
No. Amazon MSK is listed as paid, with no free plan.
What does Amazon MSK cost?
Listed plans include MSK Connect at $0.11 a month, Provisioned Standard brokers at $0.20 a month, MSK Replicator at $0.30 a month, Provisioned Express brokers at $0.41 a month, and Serverless at $0.75 a month. The listed billing notes describe hourly usage and additional charges that vary by plan and usage.
Which platforms and client languages does it support?
The listed platforms are API, Linux, and web. Supported client languages are Java, Python, Go, JavaScript, and .NET.
Which services integrate with MSK?
Listed integrations include Amazon S3, Amazon Redshift, Amazon Managed Service for Apache Flink, AWS Lambda, AWS Glue Schema Registry, and AWS Database Migration Service.
Can existing Kafka applications use MSK?
MSK maintains compatibility with the Apache Kafka open source client protocol, allowing Kafka applications and tools to work without application code changes.
What monitoring and logging options are available?
CloudWatch provides over 50 default metrics at no additional cost. Provisioned clusters can export JMX and node metrics for Prometheus-compatible tools, and broker logs can be delivered to CloudWatch Logs, S3, or Data Firehose.
Facts from Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka's own pages
- Broker logs
- MSK broker logs can be delivered to CloudWatch Logs, Amazon S3, or Amazon Data Firehose, and MSK API calls can be logged with CloudTrail. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Cluster options
- MSK offers Provisioned clusters, where customers choose broker and storage options, and Serverless clusters, which automatically adjust resources to workload needs. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- AWS states that it supports 143 security standards and compliance certifications, including PCI-DSS, HIPAA/HITECH, FedRAMP, GDPR, FIPS 140-3, and NIST 800-171. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Listed integrations include Amazon S3, Amazon Redshift, Amazon Managed Service for Apache Flink, AWS Lambda, AWS Glue Schema Registry, and AWS Database Migration Service. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- AWS describes MSK as intended for developers and DevOps or platform engineers building streaming data applications on AWS. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Kafka compatibility
- MSK maintains compatibility with the Apache Kafka open source client protocol, allowing Kafka applications and tools to work without application code changes. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Managed operations
- MSK provisions and configures clusters, replaces failed servers, orchestrates patches and upgrades, and handles monitoring and scaling. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- CloudWatch provides a default set of over 50 metrics at no additional cost; enhanced broker and topic metrics are billed at standard CloudWatch rates. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Notable cost limit
- Enhanced CloudWatch metrics are billed at standard CloudWatch rates, and MSK pricing also lists separate charges for storage, data processing, and some connectivity. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Open monitoring
- For Provisioned clusters, MSK can export JMX and node metrics for monitoring with Prometheus-compatible solutions including Datadog, Lenses, New Relic, and Sumo Logic. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Amazon MSK manages Apache Kafka infrastructure and operations so developers and platform engineers can run Kafka on AWS without becoming experts in operating it. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Resilience
- Clusters are distributed across multiple Availability Zones, with three as the default, and the MSK service level agreement guarantees three 9s of availability. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Security
- MSK supports IAM access control, SASL/SCRAM or mutual TLS authentication for Provisioned clusters, and encryption at rest and in transit. · aws.amazon.com, 3 Oct 2026
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