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Databases · head to head

Apache Pulsar vs Decodable

Apache Pulsar logo

Apache Pulsar

Databases

Cloud-native messaging and streaming with separated storage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Decodable logo

Decodable

Automation Integration

Managed Apache Flink and Debezium with credit-based pricing and a free tier

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apache Pulsar more components than Kafka: brokers, BookKeeper and ZooKeeper each need operating; Decodable credit pricing rewards intermittent work and penalises always-on pipelines: a single small task running continuously costs roughly 86 US dollars a month before any parallelism.
  • They diverge on capability: Apache Pulsar covers Separated storage, Decodable covers Managed Flink.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apache Pulsar and Decodable actually diverge.

Attributes where Apache Pulsar and Decodable differ
AttributeApache PulsarDecodable
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer credit by task hour
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hostedWeb, Linux
CategoryDatabasesAutomation Integration

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apache Pulsar

  • Separated storage
  • Queuing and streaming
  • Built-in multi-tenancy
  • Geo-replication

Only in Decodable

  • Managed Flink
  • Change data capture
  • SQL pipelines
  • Custom Flink jobs
  • Credit-based metering
  • Managed connectors

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apache Pulsar

  • Platforms needing both work queues and replayable streams without running two systemsnot Decodable
  • Multi-tenant messaging where isolation between teams is a requirementnot Decodable
  • Deployments where storage and traffic grow at genuinely different ratesnot Decodable

Decodable

  • Streaming Postgres change data capture into Snowflake or Iceberg without running Debezium and Kafka Connect yourselfnot Apache Pulsar
  • Real-time enrichment and filtering of event streams before they reach an expensive warehousenot Apache Pulsar
  • A team that already writes Flink jobs but does not want to operate the cluster, checkpoint store or upgradesnot Apache Pulsar
  • Replacing a fragile set of cron jobs and Lambda functions that move data between operational systemsnot Apache Pulsar

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apache Pulsar

  • More components than Kafka: brokers, BookKeeper and ZooKeeper each need operating
  • Correspondingly harder to run well, and the expertise is rarer than Kafka expertise
  • A much smaller ecosystem of connectors, tooling and hiring pool than Kafka
  • The architectural advantages only pay off at a scale most deployments never reach

Decodable

  • Credit pricing rewards intermittent work and penalises always-on pipelines: a single small task running continuously costs roughly 86 US dollars a month before any parallelism.
  • Parallelism multiplies tasks, so scaling a pipeline to keep up with throughput multiplies the bill in a way that is easy to under-forecast at design time.
  • The free tier retains streams for only 24 hours, which is too short to debug an intermittent failure that surfaces days later.
  • Java and Python transformations are gated behind paid plans, so anything the SQL layer cannot express means moving off the free tier immediately.
  • The operational layer is proprietary even though Flink and Debezium are not, so migrating to self-managed Flink later means rebuilding connectors, schema handling and monitoring from scratch.

Pricing, plan by plan

Apache Pulsar

Free
  • Apache PulsarFree
    • Full functionality
    • No usage limits
    • Community support

Decodable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to four concurrent tasks
    • Small and medium task sizes
    • 24 hour or 10 GB stream retention
  • On Demand$undefined/month
    • 0.12 USD per credit, billed monthly
    • Unlimited concurrent tasks
    • Small, medium and large task sizes
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • 0.10 USD per credit on pre-purchased annual capacity
    • Custom task sizes
    • Extensible retention

Which should you pick?

Choose Apache Pulsar if

  • You need separated storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
  • You also want queuing and streaming.
Apache Pulsar review

Choose Decodable if

  • You need managed flink.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux.
  • You also want change data capture.
Decodable review

Questions people ask

Is Apache Pulsar or Decodable better?
Neither clearly leads. Apache Pulsar starts at Free and Decodable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apache Pulsar or Decodable?
Apache Pulsar starts at Free and Decodable at Free.
Does Apache Pulsar or Decodable run on more platforms?
Apache Pulsar runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted. Decodable runs on Web, Linux.
Can I use Apache Pulsar for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apache Pulsar best used for?
Apache Pulsar is most often used for platforms needing both work queues and replayable streams without running two systems, multi-tenant messaging where isolation between teams is a requirement, deployments where storage and traffic grow at genuinely different rates. Of those, platforms needing both work queues and replayable streams without running two systems and multi-tenant messaging where isolation between teams is a requirement are not what Decodable is typically brought in for.
What can Apache Pulsar do that Decodable cannot?
Apache Pulsar covers Separated storage, Queuing and streaming, Built-in multi-tenancy, Geo-replication. Decodable covers Managed Flink, Change data capture, SQL pipelines, Custom Flink jobs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apache Pulsar: Is Apache Pulsar free?

Yes, open source under the Apache Software Foundation.

Decodable: What is a credit worth?

0.12 US dollars on On Demand and 0.10 on Enterprise. A small task consumes one credit per hour, medium two, large four.

Apache Pulsar: Pulsar or Kafka?

Pulsar separates storage from compute and covers queuing and streaming in one system. Kafka has a far larger ecosystem and hiring pool. Most teams should have a specific reason before choosing Pulsar.

Decodable: Is there a free plan?

Yes, up to four concurrent tasks with 24 hour or 10 GB stream retention.

Apache Pulsar: Why does separated storage matter?

Brokers hold no data, so adding or replacing one requires no rebalancing, and storage can grow without adding serving capacity.

Decodable: Is it really Apache Flink underneath?

Yes, Flink for processing and Debezium for change data capture, both managed by Decodable.

Decodable: Can I run my own Flink jobs?

Yes, Java and Python jobs on paid plans; the free plan is SQL only.

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