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Comparison · Analytics
Apache SkyWalking vs Apache Storm
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Apache SkyWalking and Apache Storm — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Apache SkyWalking vs Apache Storm: at a glance
What is Apache SkyWalking?
SkyWalking 11.1 builds service maps from OpenTelemetry traces, no SkyWalking agent required.
Apache SkyWalking spent 2025 and 2026 rebuilding its foundations: BanyanDB replaced H2, the Groovy DSL runtime gave way to ANTLR4 and Javassist, and 11.0.0 split the UI out of the backend. Version 11.1.0, released November 6, stores OTLP traces as they arrive and adds a Trace Analysis Language that turns spans into service, instance and endpoint metrics, topology and dashboards for the databases, caches and queues those services call. Applications instrumented only with OpenTelemetry SDKs now get SkyWalking's dashboards without its agent.
What is Apache Storm?
Storm 3.1 adds an Iceberg sink and closes a long list of security gaps in Nimbus and the UI.
Storm runs a 3.x line, started in July with 3.0.0's removal of all Clojure and a Java 21 baseline, alongside 2.8.x maintenance. 3.1.0 on September 12 adds a storm-iceberg module with an Apache Iceberg sink bolt and a setting to control JSONP wrapping, and spends most of its notes on hardening: log listings filtered by user permission, jar locations restricted to the Nimbus inbox, blobstore names confined to topology directories, TLS peer verification for worker connections and required Kryo class registration.
Apache SkyWalking vs Apache Storm: editorial side-by-side
Apache SkyWalking
3.8ANALYTICS
SkyWalking 11.1 builds service maps from OpenTelemetry traces, no SkyWalking agent required.
◆ Current state
Apache SkyWalking spent 2025 and 2026 rebuilding its foundations: BanyanDB replaced H2, the Groovy DSL runtime gave way to ANTLR4 and Javassist, and 11.0.0 split the UI out of the backend. Version 11.1.0, released November 6, stores OTLP traces as they arrive and adds a Trace Analysis Language that turns spans into service, instance and endpoint metrics, topology and dashboards for the databases, caches and queues those services call. Applications instrumented only with OpenTelemetry SDKs now get SkyWalking's dashboards without its agent.
◆ Where it's heading
After taking storage and runtime in-house, SkyWalking is opening its front door to OpenTelemetry data. Its value is shifting from its own agents toward the analysis it runs on any trace source.
◆ Prediction
Expect more TAL coverage and OpenTelemetry quick starts, with SkyWalking's own agents positioned as optional rather than required.
Apache Storm
0.0ANALYTICS
Storm 3.1 adds an Iceberg sink and closes a long list of security gaps in Nimbus and the UI.
◆ Current state
Storm runs a 3.x line, started in July with 3.0.0's removal of all Clojure and a Java 21 baseline, alongside 2.8.x maintenance. 3.1.0 on September 12 adds a storm-iceberg module with an Apache Iceberg sink bolt and a setting to control JSONP wrapping, and spends most of its notes on hardening: log listings filtered by user permission, jar locations restricted to the Nimbus inbox, blobstore names confined to topology directories, TLS peer verification for worker connections and required Kryo class registration.
◆ Where it's heading
After the 2.8.6 and 2.8.7 CVE releases, the 3.x line is closing access-control gaps across Nimbus, the logviewer and worker transport. The Iceberg sink adds a direct path into lakehouse storage.
◆ Prediction
Expect 3.1.x follow-ups, possibly with security advisories for the hardened paths, and continued 2.8.x maintenance; whether more lakehouse connectors follow is unclear.
Alternatives to Apache SkyWalking and Apache Storm
Other Analytics products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Apache SkyWalking or Apache Storm.
Calibre
Calibre MCP lets your coding agent read RUM and Lighthouse data, then fix the slow code
Dovetail
Dovetail opens its docs to Claude and ChatGPT as co-authors.
OpenReplay
OpenReplay's feed is Helm chart bumps behind its asset-cacher deny list.
Tinybird
Tinybird shrinks its Local image by a third after a run of observability updates.
OpenHouse
OpenHouse tightens view authorization and moves its optimizer schema to Flyway.
See all Apache SkyWalking alternatives → · See all Apache Storm alternatives →
Recent activity from Apache SkyWalking and Apache Storm
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 3d agoApache SkyWalking11.1.0 - Metrics and Topology from OTLP Traces ⚡
- 1mo agoApache StormStorm 3.1.0 adds an Iceberg sink and security hardening
- 2mo agoApache SkyWalking11.0.0 - Horizon Ready, Runtime Rule Hot-Update and Live DSL Debugger ⚡
- 3mo agoApache StormStorm 3.0 drops Clojure entirely and moves to Java 21 ⚡
- 3mo agoApache Storm2.8.9 is a dependency sweep with one Flux viewer guard
- 3mo agoApache Storm2.8.8 backports a Kafka topology-lag fix
- 6mo agoApache StormTwo TLS CVEs fixed: JVM-wide downgrade and auth bypass
- 6mo agoApache StormDeserialization RCE and stored XSS in the UI are fixed
- 7mo agoApache SkyWalking10.4.0 - GenAI Observability, Groovy-Free Runtime and Grafana Tempo Compatible ⚡
- 10mo agoApache SkyWalking10.3.0 - New Trace Model in BanyanDB
- 1y agoApache SkyWalking10.2.0 - No H2, More BanyanDB ⚡
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Apache SkyWalking and Apache Storm?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Apache SkyWalking is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 3.8 vs 0.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Apache SkyWalking better than Apache Storm?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Apache SkyWalking is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 3.8 vs 0.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Analytics products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Apache SkyWalking?
Top Apache SkyWalking alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Apache SkyWalking alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/skywalking for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to Apache Storm?
Top Apache Storm alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Apache Storm alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/storm for the full list with editorial commentary on each.