Introduction
Are you in search of a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective way to process your streaming data? Then serverless stream processing is just what you need. But with numerous options out there, it can be challenging to choose the best service for your business.
In this blog post, we'll compare the two most popular serverless stream processing services, AWS Kinesis and Azure Event Hubs. We'll compare their features, cost management, and performance to help you make an informed decision.
Features
Both AWS Kinesis and Azure Event Hubs offer scalable, secure, and reliable real-time data streaming with built-in monitoring, auditing, and security. However, each service has unique features that can affect your choice.
For instance, AWS Kinesis offers up to a million transactions per second per stream, which surpasses Azure Event Hub's 200k transactions per second stream capacity. In contrast, Azure Event Hubs offer more API features for customization, retention, and easier integration with Power BI, whereas Kinesis provides more ease of use and flexibility with its advanced pricing models - pay per usage, per provisioned capacity, and a hybrid approach.
Costs
Cost is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a serverless stream processing service. Nobody wants to get into a subscription they can't afford.
AWS Kinesis and Azure Event Hubs use a pay-as-you-go pricing model. AWS Kinesis charges based on the number of streaming items as well as the capacity of data processing units used, while Azure Event Hubs offer a flat rate pricing model based on the number of messages.
However, it's essential to note that other usage-related costs, such as ingress data, API calls, and transfer costs, may be added to your overall bill.
According to Datadog's comprehensive report, the cost of using AWS Kinesis can be up to three times higher than that of Azure Event Hubs, depending on your usage scenarios.
Performance
Performance is a critical factor when it comes to stream processing. AWS Kinesis is well known for its high throughput capabilities and low latency, which makes it a better option for large scale operations. On the flip side, Azure Event Hubs have a slightly lower throughput than Kinesis, but they have a maximum retention period of seven days, which is much longer than Kinesis's 24-hour retention period.
Conclusion
AWS Kinesis and Azure Event Hubs are both excellent serverless stream processing services that suit different use cases. Kinesis stands out for high throughput and low latency, while Azure Event Hubs offer more features for customization and data retention.
In terms of cost, the choice will depend on your use case, as both services have slightly different pricing models that can impact the bills.
When comparing AWS Kinesis vs Azure Event Hubs, it's essential to weigh your preferences, usage scenarios, and available resources. And remember, it's crucial to not only choose the most affordable option but also pick a service that aligns with your unique business needs and goals.
References
- AWS Kinesis - https://aws.amazon.com/kinesis/
- Azure Event Hubs - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/event-hubs/
- AWS Kinesis vs. Azure Event Hubs: Performance and Cost Evaluation - https://www.datadoghq.com/blog/aws-kinesis-vs-azure-event-hubs/