If you’re running Apache Kafka in production, you’ve probably wondered: “How long will my current version be supported?” With Kafka 4.0’s recent release removing ZooKeeper entirely, understanding version lifecycle management has become more critical than ever.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Apache Kafka’s version support policies and EOL schedules.

1. What is Apache Kafka?

Apache Kafka is a distributed event streaming platform originally developed at LinkedIn and open-sourced under the Apache Software Foundation in 2011.

Key Features

• High Throughput: Capable of processing millions of messages per second
• Scalability: Horizontal scaling for unlimited data processing
• Fault Tolerance: Reliable operations through data replication
• Real-time Processing: Low latency in milliseconds

From financial institutions processing real-time transactions to Netflix analyzing streaming data and Uber tracking real-time locations, companies worldwide rely on Kafka for their data pipelines.

2. Understanding Kafka’s Support Policy

Apache Kafka’s support policy differs from typical open-source projects. While there’s no formally documented EOL policy, the community follows implicit guidelines.

Community Support Guidelines

• Approximately 3 minor releases per year (every 4 months)
• Bug fixes provided for the latest 3 releases
• Support window of approximately 12-16 months per version
• Oldest version automatically reaches EOL when a new version is released

Currently Supported Versions (as of November 2025)
Community-supported versions are 4.1.0, 4.0.1, 3.9.1, 3.8.1, 3.7.2. All other versions have reached EOL, meaning no security patches or bug fixes are provided.

Reference: End of Life Date – Apache Kafka

3. Complete Apache Kafka Version Release History and Support Status

4.x Series (Latest – ZooKeeper Removed)

3.9.x Series (Bridge to 4.0)

3.8.x Series

3.7.x Series (KRaft Production Ready)

3.6.x Series (EOL)

3.5.x Series (EOL)

3.4.x Series (EOL)

3.3.x Series (EOL)

3.2.x Series (EOL)

3.1.x Series (EOL)

3.0.x Series (EOL)

2.8.x Series (EOL)

2.7.x Series (EOL)

2.6.x Series (EOL)

2.5.x Series (EOL)

2.4.x Series (EOL)

2.3.x Series (EOL)

2.2.x Series (EOL)

2.1.x Series (EOL)

2.0.x Series (EOL)

1.1.x Series (EOL)

1.0.x Series (EOL)

0.11.x Series (EOL)

0.10.2.x Series (EOL)

0.10.1.x Series (EOL)

0.10.0.x Series (EOL)

0.9.0.x Series (EOL)

0.8.2.x Series (EOL)

0.8.1.x Series (EOL)

Early Versions (EOL)

References

• Apache Kafka Downloads & Release Notes
• Apache Kafka Archive
• Kinetic Edge – Kafka Version History
• Apache Kafka Release Plans

4. Confluent Platform Commercial Support

Unlike the open-source Apache Kafka, Confluent Platform offers extended support up to 3 years through commercial licensing.

Confluent Platform Support Policy

For example, Confluent Platform 7.4.x released on May 3, 2023, receives Standard support until May 3, 2025, and Platinum support until May 3, 2026.

Benefits of Confluent Platform

• Continuous security patches
• Enterprise-grade technical support
• Commercial connectors and additional features
• SLA (Service Level Agreement) guarantees

Reference: Confluent Platform Versions and Interoperability

5. Planning Your Kafka Upgrade

Upgrading to Kafka 4.0 or Later

Kafka 4.0 is the first major version to completely remove ZooKeeper. Careful planning is essential.

Recommended Upgrade Path

[Currently on 2.x]
↓
Upgrade to 3.4.x
↓
Upgrade ZooKeeper to 3.8
↓
Upgrade to 3.9.x
↓
Perform KRaft migration
↓
Upgrade to 4.0.x

Pre-Upgrade Checklist

Reference: Exploring Kafka 4: Upgrade Considerations

Upgrading Between 3.x Versions

Upgrading between 3.x versions is relatively safe, but verify the following:

1. Rolling Upgrade Support: Supported between releases within the past year
2. ZooKeeper Version: Recommended to upgrade from 3.5+ to 3.8
3. Scala Version: 2.13 is the recommended version
4. Testing Environment: Always validate in staging first

6. Version Management Best Practices

Regular Review and Planning

Quarterly Checklist

• Check EOL schedule for current version
• Review release notes for new versions
• Determine upgrade necessity

Upgrade Timing

• Begin upgrade planning 6 months before EOL
• Start testing environment validation 3 months prior
• Finalize production upgrade schedule 1 month before

Version Selection Guide

Monitoring Essentials

Version Check Commands

# Check Kafka version
${KAFKA_HOME}/bin/kafka-topics.sh --version

# Or
${KAFKA_HOME}/bin/kafka-broker-api-versions.sh \
  --bootstrap-server localhost:9092

ZooKeeper Usage Check (pre-4.0)

# Test ZooKeeper connection
${KAFKA_HOME}/bin/zookeeper-shell.sh localhost:2181

# Check ZooKeeper nodes
ls /brokers/ids

KRaft Mode Check (3.3+)

# Check cluster metadata
${KAFKA_HOME}/bin/kafka-metadata.sh \
  --snapshot /tmp/kraft-combined-logs/__cluster_metadata-0/00000000000000000000.log \
  --print

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens if I continue using an EOL version?
A: You’ll miss security patches and bug fixes, exposing your system to vulnerabilities. This is particularly critical for financial services or applications handling personal data, where compliance issues may arise. Upgrade to a supported version as soon as possible.

Q: Can I upgrade directly to 4.0?
A: Only if you’re on 3.7 or later and have completed KRaft migration. Otherwise, upgrade to 3.9 first, complete KRaft migration, then move to 4.0. If you’re still using ZooKeeper, you must complete KRaft migration before upgrading to 4.0.

Q: What versions do AWS MSK and Confluent Cloud support?
A: Managed services follow their own upgrade policies. AWS MSK currently supports 4.1, 4.0, 3.9, 3.8, and offers automatic upgrade options. Confluent Cloud supports the latest versions and provides zero-downtime rolling upgrades.

Q: Should I choose community version or Confluent Platform?
A: If you can upgrade frequently and have infrastructure management capabilities, the community version works well. However, if you need long-term support or enterprise features (Schema Registry, KSQL, Control Center), consider Confluent Platform. The 3-year support and technical assistance reduce operational burden.

Q: Why can’t I download version 3.3.0?
A: Version 3.3.0 had critical bugs discovered immediately after release, leading to an instant 3.3.1 release. Therefore, 3.3.0 is not officially available for download. If you need 3.3.x series, use 3.3.1 or later.

Q: Java version upgrades seem challenging. Any advice?
A: Java version requirements keep increasing. Take a phased approach:

1. Test Java version upgrade in staging environment
2. Upgrade client applications first
3. Finally upgrade Kafka brokers

Long-term, maintaining current Java versions benefits security and performance.

Conclusion

Apache Kafka’s rapid release cycle (3 times per year) provides quick access to new features and performance improvements, but also requires attention to version management.

The removal of ZooKeeper in Kafka 4.0 represents a fundamental infrastructure change, requiring adequate preparation time and phased implementation. However, this change will significantly simplify Kafka cluster management in the long run.

Check if your current version is within its support period, and if EOL is approaching, start planning your upgrade now. Proper version management is essential for data pipeline stability and security.

If you encounter challenges during upgrades, make full use of official documentation and community resources. The Kafka community is highly active and can provide substantial assistance.

Official Documentation and References

• Apache Kafka Official Website
• Apache Kafka Downloads & Release Notes
• Apache Kafka Documentation
• End of Life Date – Apache Kafka
• Kinetic Edge – Kafka Version History
• Apache Kafka Release Plans
• Confluent Platform Documentation
• AWS MSK Supported Versions
• Kafka 4.0 Release Blog