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Apache ActiveMQ VS Spark Mail

Compare Apache ActiveMQ VS Spark Mail and see what are their differences

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Apache ActiveMQ logo Apache ActiveMQ

Apache ActiveMQ is an open source messaging and integration patterns server.

Spark Mail logo Spark Mail

Spark helps you take your inbox under control. Instantly see what’s important and quickly clean up the rest. Spark for Teams allows you to create, discuss, and share email with your colleagues
  • Apache ActiveMQ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-01
  • Spark Mail Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22

Apache ActiveMQ features and specs

  • Open Source
    ActiveMQ is open-source under the Apache License, making it free to use and modify. This can lead to cost savings compared to commercial solutions.
  • Wide Protocol Support
    ActiveMQ supports multiple messaging protocols, including AMQP, MQTT, OpenWire, Stomp, and others, allowing for flexible integration with various systems and applications.
  • Java Integration
    Written in Java, ActiveMQ integrates well with JVM-based applications and other Apache projects like Camel and Karaf, making it a good fit for Java-centric environments.
  • High Availability
    Features like broker clustering, network of brokers, and failover support provide robust high availability options, ensuring message delivery even in case of failures.
  • Performance and Scalability
    ActiveMQ can handle a large number of messages and users by scaling horizontally, making it suitable for both small and enterprise-level applications.
  • Admin Console
    ActiveMQ provides a web-based admin console for easy management and monitoring of the message broker, simplifying administrative tasks.

Possible disadvantages of Apache ActiveMQ

  • Complex Configuration
    The initial setup and configuration can be complex, especially for newcomers. It often requires a steep learning curve to understand all the available options and optimizations.
  • Resource Intensive
    ActiveMQ can be resource-intensive, particularly in high-throughput scenarios, which may necessitate more robust hardware for optimal performance.
  • Latency
    In certain configurations, ActiveMQ may exhibit higher latency compared to other brokers, which might not make it suitable for use cases requiring real-time guarantees.
  • Java Dependency
    As a Java-based solution, ActiveMQ requires the JVM, which can be a downside for organizations that have standardized on other technology stacks.
  • Community Support
    While there is a community around ActiveMQ, it may not be as large or as active as those for other, similar open-source projects. This can lead to slower responses to issues and fewer community-based resources.
  • Documentation
    Though comprehensive, the documentation can sometimes be difficult to navigate, making it challenging for users to find specific information quickly.

Spark Mail features and specs

  • Smart Inbox
    Spark Mail intelligently categorizes emails into Personal, Notifications, and Newsletters, making it easy to prioritize your important messages and reduce clutter.
  • Collaborative Email
    Allows teams to discuss emails privately, share drafts, and collaborate on responses in real-time, improving team productivity and communication.
  • Customization
    Provides extensive customization options, enabling users to tweak the interface, swipe actions, and notification settings according to their preferences.
  • Unified Inbox
    Combines all your email accounts into a single inbox, simplifying email management for those with multiple email addresses.
  • Scheduled Sending
    Enables users to schedule emails to be sent later, making it easier to manage communication across different time zones.
  • Smart Search
    Offers advanced search functionality to quickly find emails using natural language queries and filters.

Possible disadvantages of Spark Mail

  • Privacy Concerns
    Some users have raised concerns about the data Spark Mail collects and how it handles user privacy, despite the company's assurances.
  • Subscription Model
    While the basic version is free, some advanced features are locked behind a subscription, which might be a deterrent for some users.
  • Limited Integrations
    Compared to some competitors, Spark Mail offers fewer integrations with third-party apps and services, which can be limiting for advanced users.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Users have reported occasional bugs and performance issues, which can cause inconvenience and affect productivity.
  • Team Features Complexity
    The collaborative features, while powerful, can be complex to set up and use effectively, posing a steep learning curve for new users or non-technical teams.
  • Platform Limitations
    Available mainly on Apple platforms and limited support for Windows and Android devices, restricting accessibility for some users.

Analysis of Apache ActiveMQ

Overall verdict

  • Apache ActiveMQ is generally considered a good choice for message brokering due to its comprehensive feature set, stability, and scalability. It is especially beneficial in environments where integration between different systems and technologies is necessary, thanks to its support of numerous messaging protocols.

Why this product is good

  • Apache ActiveMQ is a popular open-source message broker that is known for its flexibility and reliability. It supports multiple messaging protocols and offers features such as high availability, load balancing, and a robust set of messaging patterns. It is a mature project with a large user base and a supportive community. Its ability to integrate with various platforms and languages, along with its rich feature set, makes it a suitable choice for many applications requiring reliable message queuing.

Recommended for

    Apache ActiveMQ is recommended for enterprises looking for a reliable and scalable message broker, developers needing rich messaging functionality, and organizations that require robust support for various messaging protocols, including JMS, AMQP, STOMP, and MQTT. It is particularly well-suited for applications that need to distribute messages between different applications, languages, and platforms.

Apache ActiveMQ videos

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Spark Mail videos

Should You Buy the New Positive Grid Spark Amp? | Review + Demo

More videos:

  • Review - DJI SPARK IN-DEPTH REVIEW!! (4K)
  • Review - 2020 Chevrolet Spark Review | Nimble w/Tons of Value

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache ActiveMQ and Spark Mail)
Data Integration
100 100%
0% 0
Email
0 0%
100% 100
Stream Processing
100 100%
0% 0
Email Clients
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Apache ActiveMQ and Spark Mail

Apache ActiveMQ Reviews

6 Best Kafka Alternatives: 2022’s Must-know List
ActiveMQ is a flexible, open-source, multi-protocol messaging broker that supports many protocols. This makes it easy for developers to use a variety of languages and platforms. The AMQP protocol facilitates integration with many applications based on different platforms. However, ActiveMQ’s high-end data accessibility capabilities are complemented by its load balancing,...
Source: hevodata.com
Top 15 Alternatives to RabbitMQ In 2021
It is a managed information broker for Apache ActiveMQ which has simple installation and it runs message broker in cloud. It doesn’t need any special look after regular management and maintenance of the message system. It is utilized to send bulk message services.
Source: gokicker.com
Top 15 Kafka Alternatives Popular In 2021
Apache ActiveMQ is a popular, open-source, flexible multi-protocol messaging broker. Since it has great support for industry-based protocols, developers get access to languages and platforms. It helps in connecting clients written in languages like Python, C, C++, JavaScript, etc. With the help of the AMQP protocol, integration with many applications with different platforms...

Spark Mail Reviews

10 Best Alternatives to Microsoft Outlook to Try in 2023
Spark is a popular email client for Mac that offers a number of features that make it a great alternative to Outlook. One of the biggest advantages of Spark is its user-friendly interface. It's easy to navigate and has a clean, modern design that makes it easy to read and compose emails.
Source: mysignature.io
11 Top Outlook Alternatives to Try
Not every user is thrilled with Spark’s privacy practices. For example, once you’ve set up your email accounts on one device, you’ll never have to enter all of your passwords or other details again. When you install Spark on another device, you enter the details of one of the accounts, and all of your inboxes are automatically synced.
Source: kinsta.com
10 BEST Outlook Alternatives in 2023
Spark is a software package that automatically categorizes emails for secure processing. It is one of the best Outlook alternative that allows you to pin or snooze emails. You can invite your teammates to create mail together.
Source: www.guru99.com
10 Alternatives to Thunderbird Reddit – Ease Your Email Life!
In search of something better, I started using Airmail again after quite some time. Now I understand that Airmail is still one of the easiest and best ways to do all that we need to do. With Spark, you can navigate through your email with a minimal interface. Finally, there’s MailMate, an email client with more power than any other for Mac OS- though the company charges for...
Source: droidpile.com
11 Best Thunderbird Alternatives That Make Email Easier
Here you can access most of Spark’s planned features as swipe actions, unique inbox, snooze, and save for future use. Also, you can get the modern features of Thunderbird which include rules, email filtering, and large search criteria.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Spark Mail should be more popular than Apache ActiveMQ. It has been mentiond 30 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Apache ActiveMQ mentions (7)

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Spark Mail mentions (30)

  • My ADHD Life Pro tips
    Using https://sparkmailapp.com/ for email, where I put in all my email IDs and make it a ritual to finish all email in one go once in the day, I habit bundle the email with coffee always. Source: over 1 year ago
  • How integrated into the Apple software ecosystem are you?
    Regarding email, I find the Mail app to be adequate for most purposes. However, I do prefer Mimestream on Mac and Spark on iOS for their user interface. Specifically, I find Spark on Mac to be a bit heavy. It is worth noting that I use custom domain email hosted through Apple instead of Gmail. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Poor time management
    Apps like Notion,Forest, Veamly orSpark can be useful. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Do you guys use apple mail app?
    Nope, I like Spark on MacOS and iOS and the Fastmail web interface on everything else. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Looking for email app recommendation
    I use Spark Mail. I think it can fulfill all the requirements you listed. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apache ActiveMQ and Spark Mail, you can also consider the following products

RabbitMQ - RabbitMQ is an open source message broker software.

Thunderbird - Thunderbird is a free email application that's easy to set up and customize - and it's loaded with great features!

IBM MQ - IBM MQ is messaging middleware that simplifies and accelerates the integration of diverse applications and data across multiple platforms.

Microsoft Outlook - Organize your world. Outlook’s email and calendar tools help you communicate, stay on top of what matters, and get things done.

Apache Kafka - Apache Kafka is an open-source message broker project developed by the Apache Software Foundation written in Scala.

Gmail - Gmail is available across all your devices Android, iOS, and desktop devices. Sort, collaborate or call a friend without leaving your inbox.