Side by side
Apache ActiveMQ vs Apache RocketMQ
Both stand on message broker software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3
ActiveMQ offers broad protocol, client, transport, and persistence choices for self-hosted messaging. Its documented support is full for JMS 1.1 and J2EE 1.4+, but partial for newer listed messaging standards.
Visit Apache ActiveMQ Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2
Apache RocketMQ offers a broad set of messaging patterns and deployment options as self-hosted open-source middleware. Operators should account for the JDK requirement and configure access controls or restrict trusted networks.
Visit Apache RocketMQThe facts
| Apache ActiveMQ | Apache RocketMQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | activemq.apache.org | rocketmq.apache.org |
| On message broker software | #1 of 39 | #2 of 39 |
Apache ActiveMQ: what it does well
- Supports four listed messaging protocols.
- Client options span eight programming languages.
- Includes JDBC persistence and a high-performance journal.
- Offers destination read, write, and admin permissions.
- Free under the Apache License 2.0.
What to know first
- Jakarta Messaging 3.1 support is partial.
- JMS 2.0 support is partial.
- Requires self-hosted deployment.
Apache RocketMQ: what it does well
- Free under the Apache License 2.0.
- Supports several messaging patterns and consumption modes.
- Lists persistence, replication, and failover.
- Can run locally, in Docker, or Kubernetes.
- Lists SDKs for Java, Go, Python, C++, and Rust.
What to know first
- ACL is not enabled by default.
- Quick-start requires a 64-bit JDK 1.8 or later.
- Operators must configure ACL or restrict network access.
Alternatives to Apache ActiveMQ Alternatives to Apache RocketMQ The whole list