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Create an Apache Kafka service on Aiven

Create an Apache Kafka® service on Aiven by choosing a cluster type that defines how the service is sized and where data is stored: Inkless or Classic.

Choose a cluster type​

Inkless Kafka​

Inkless Kafka uses throughput-based sizing and supports both classic topics and diskless topics, which store data in object storage.

Choose Inkless Kafka if you need:

  • Throughput-based sizing on Aiven Cloud instead of fixed plans
  • Faster cluster scaling, version upgrades, and node recovery
  • Higher throughput per broker
  • Mixed workloads with classic topics for low latency and diskless topics for lower-cost storage

Create Inkless service

Classic Kafka​

Classic Kafka uses fixed plans with local broker storage. Tiered storage is available when the selected plan and cloud support it.

Choose Classic Kafka if you need:

  • Control over the broker size and number in the cluster deployment
  • Very large local retention
  • Complete control over the local disk size, and scaling
  • Free tier or specific cloud deployments
  • All retained data stored on local disks

Create Classic service

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