Kiali vs Zipkin: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Kiali and Zipkin

Kiali and Zipkin are both widely used distributed tracing systems that help in troubleshooting microservices-based architectures. However, they differ in several key aspects:

1. Architecture: Kiali is a fully integrated observability console that provides visibility into the health and performance of microservices, including tracing capabilities. On the other hand, Zipkin solely focuses on distributed tracing and provides limited visibility into other aspects of microservices.

2. Feature Set: Kiali offers a comprehensive set of features, including service topology visualization, request flow monitoring, health and performance monitoring, and distributed tracing. In contrast, Zipkin primarily focuses on distributed tracing and provides advanced features specifically designed for tracing purposes.

3. User Interface and Experience: Kiali provides a user-friendly and intuitive web-based interface with various interactive visualizations, making it easier to understand and analyze the complex relationships between microservices. Zipkin, although functional, has a relatively simpler and less polished user interface.

4. Compatibility: Kiali is specifically designed for Kubernetes-based applications and integrates seamlessly with various Kubernetes tools and frameworks. On the other hand, Zipkin is a language-agnostic distributed tracing system that can be used with any application regardless of the underlying infrastructure.

5. Integration Capabilities: Kiali integrates with popular observability and monitoring tools like Grafana, Prometheus, and Jaeger, enabling users to have a holistic view of their microservices ecosystem. Zipkin, while it can be integrated with other tools, primarily focuses on providing tracing data, making it less versatile in terms of integration capabilities.

6. Community Support and Adoption: Kiali has gained significant traction within the Kubernetes community and has a large and active user base, which results in frequent updates and improvements. Zipkin, being a long-standing distributed tracing system, also has a significant community but may have relatively fewer updates or new features being added.

In summary, Kiali offers a comprehensive observability console with advanced tracing capabilities, while Zipkin primarily focuses on distributed tracing but offers limited visibility into other aspects of microservices. The choice between the two depends on specific requirements and the level of integration and functionality needed.