# Karafka Pro FAQ

Karafka Pro is an enhanced version of the Karafka framework, adding more functionalities and providing additional customer support options.

1. [Is Karafka suitable for production and enterprise use?](#is-karafka-suitable-for-production-and-enterprise-use)
1. [To become a Karafka Pro user, do I need to follow the LICENSE-COMM terms?](#to-become-a-karafka-pro-user-do-i-need-to-follow-the-license-comm-terms)
1. [Is there a trial version?](#is-there-a-trial-version)
1. [What is the license?](#what-is-the-license)
1. [How does Pro licensing work?](#how-does-pro-licensing-work)
1. [Why does the Pro license support Ruby versions beyond their End-of-Life (EOL)?](#why-does-the-pro-license-support-ruby-versions-beyond-their-end-of-life-eol)
1. [Do I require to change source of the package?](#do-i-require-to-change-source-of-the-package)
1. [What happens if my subscription lapses?](#what-happens-if-my-subscription-lapses)
1. [Do I need to replace the license for my running processes?](#do-i-need-to-replace-the-license-for-my-running-processes)
1. [How do I buy Karafka Pro?](#how-do-i-buy-karafka-pro)
1. [Can I distribute Karafka Pro to my customers?](#can-i-distribute-karafka-pro-to-my-customers)
1. [Can I use Karafka Pro in my public project?](#can-i-use-karafka-pro-in-my-public-project)
1. [Can you transfer a license?](#can-you-transfer-a-license)
1. [Do I have to share the credentials with all of my developers?](#do-i-have-to-share-the-credentials-with-all-of-my-developers)
1. [Can I get a refund?](#can-i-get-a-refund)
1. [Can I accidentally use Pro because it is in the same repository?](#can-i-accidentally-use-pro-because-it-is-in-the-same-repository)
1. [Why do I see a "Bad username or password" message when trying to bundle install?](#why-do-i-see-a-bad-username-or-password-message-when-trying-to-bundle-install)
1. [Where can I find my license credentials page URL?](#where-can-i-find-my-license-credentials-page-url)
1. [Do you require any personal information, financial data, confidential/sensitive data, government data, etc.?](#do-you-require-any-personal-information-financial-data-confidentialsensitive-data-government-data-etc)
1. [How do you ensure the security of your gem server?](#how-do-you-ensure-the-security-of-your-gem-server)
1. [What is Karafka Data Collection and GDPR Policy?](#what-is-karafka-data-collection-and-gdpr-policy)
1. [Does Karafka Pro stores, processes or transmits Personal Health Information?](#does-karafka-pro-stores-processes-or-transmits-personal-health-information)
1. [Does Karafka Pro stores, processes or transmits Personally Identifiable Information?](#does-karafka-pro-stores-processes-or-transmits-personally-identifiable-information)
1. [Will Karafka store, process, or transmit company confidential information and data?](#will-karafka-store-process-or-transmit-company-confidential-information-and-data)
1. [How do you store, process, or transmit Payment Cardholder Information?](#how-do-you-store-process-or-transmit-payment-cardholder-information)
1. [What specific PHI, PII, PCI data fields, or company confidential information and data do you collect?](#what-specific-phi-pii-pci-data-fields-or-company-confidential-information-and-data-do-you-collect)
1. [Where is the hosting infrastructure located?](#where-is-the-hosting-infrastructure-located)
1. [Can I use Karafka Pro with an offline license without using the Karafka gem server?](#can-i-use-karafka-pro-with-an-offline-license-without-using-the-karafka-gem-server)
1. [How can I change the email associated with my subscription?](#how-can-i-change-the-email-associated-with-my-subscription)
1. [How can I change the credit card associated with my subscription?](#how-can-i-change-the-credit-card-associated-with-my-subscription)
1. [Does the Pro license require me to use the "Source URL" in my Gemfile to fetch the license?](#does-the-pro-license-require-me-to-use-the-source-url-in-my-gemfile-to-fetch-the-license)
1. [Can I use Karafka Pro with a private gem server / private registry?](#can-i-use-karafka-pro-with-a-private-gem-server-private-registry)
1. [Can I pay via invoice and purchase order?](#can-i-pay-via-invoice-and-purchase-order)
1. [Can you fill out my security or compliance documentation?](#can-you-fill-out-my-security-or-compliance-documentation)
1. [Can I request a change to the license terms?](#can-i-request-a-change-to-the-license-terms)
1. [Are there any feature related differences in between Karafka Pro and Enterprise?](#are-there-any-feature-related-differences-in-between-karafka-pro-and-enterprise)
1. [What is the response and resolution time for priority support with Karafka?](#what-is-the-response-and-resolution-time-for-priority-support-with-karafka)
1. [Where can I find a list of OSS components that the Karafka ecosystem uses?](#where-can-i-find-a-list-of-oss-components-that-the-karafka-ecosystem-uses)
1. [Can I use one Karafka license across multiple companies within a corporate group?](#can-i-use-one-karafka-license-across-multiple-companies-within-a-corporate-group)
1. [Can contractors and agencies use my Karafka license?](#can-contractors-and-agencies-use-my-karafka-license)
1. [Do you provide hard commitments on feature development for Karafka Pro?](#do-you-provide-hard-commitments-on-feature-development-for-karafka-pro)
1. [Do you provide consulting or contracting services?](#do-you-provide-consulting-or-contracting-services)
1. [How reliable is Karafka as a long-term solution?](#how-reliable-is-karafka-as-a-long-term-solution)
1. [What happens if the maintainer becomes unavailable?](#what-happens-if-the-maintainer-becomes-unavailable)
1. [Can I have multiple trials for my company?](#can-i-have-multiple-trials-for-my-company)
1. [What happens if my payment fails or my credit card cannot be charged?](#what-happens-if-my-payment-fails-or-my-credit-card-cannot-be-charged)
1. [Will Karafka Pro prices increase in the future?](#will-karafka-pro-prices-increase-in-the-future)
1. [What are the pricing adjustment terms for Enterprise agreements?](#what-are-the-pricing-adjustment-terms-for-enterprise-agreements)
1. [Ethics, Privacy, and Information Usage](#ethics-privacy-and-information-usage)
1. [Contact Info](#contact-info)

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Is Karafka suitable for production and enterprise use?

**Yes**, Karafka is safe for business-critical applications.

Here's why:

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Is Karafka suitable for production and enterprise use? / **Proven Production Scale**

Karafka is widely deployed across various organizations worldwide, including industries such as finance, e-commerce, and healthcare. It has been battle-tested at enterprise scale, with some deployments running thousands of processes in production environments.

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Is Karafka suitable for production and enterprise use? / **Sustainable Commercial Backing**

Unlike typical open-source projects that rely on volunteer maintenance, Karafka has a robust commercial model:

- **Karafka Pro** provides commercial licenses, priority support, and architecture consultations
- Pro subscriptions directly fund ongoing research and development
- Revenue creates a virtuous cycle where commercial success drives open-source improvements
- This model ensures long-term sustainability and continuous innovation

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Is Karafka suitable for production and enterprise use? / **Active Development & Maintenance**

- Frequent releases
- Major feature releases like Karafka 2.5 with live consumer management capabilities
- Continuous performance improvements and optimizations

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Is Karafka suitable for production and enterprise use? / **Enterprise-Grade Features**

- Built-in Web UI for monitoring and management
- Live consumer management (pause/resume partitions in real-time)
- Comprehensive error handling and Dead Letter Queue functionality
- Rails integration and ActiveJob backend support
- Professional monitoring integrations (AppSignal, StatsD/DataDog)

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Is Karafka suitable for production and enterprise use? / **Long-Term Commitment**

The combination of commercial success, proven scale, and active development creates a self-reinforcing cycle that makes Karafka a safer bet than many corporate-backed or fully open-source projects that can be abandoned when business priorities shift.

**Bottom Line:** Karafka combines enterprise-grade reliability—proven by features like comprehensive error handling, Dead Letter Queue functionality, and professional monitoring integrations—with the innovation speed of well-funded open source, as demonstrated by frequent feature releases and live consumer management capabilities. It's designed for businesses that need both stability and growth capability.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / To become a Karafka Pro user, do I need to follow the LICENSE-COMM terms?

Yes, it is required to accept the [LICENSE-COMM](https://karafka.io/docs/Pro-License-Comm.md) terms to become a Karafka Pro user.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Is there a trial version?

Yes. For free, you can obtain temporary credentials from our [website](https://karafka.io/#become-pro).

Those credentials will be valid for 14 days for every environment.

The trial license does **not** grant you our Pro commercial support.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / What is the license?

See [LICENSE-COMM](https://karafka.io/docs/Pro-License-Comm.md) on our documentation website.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / How does Pro licensing work?

Every organization running Karafka Pro on its servers must purchase a subscription. There's no limit to the number of servers or environments used by that organization. Your subscription will automatically renew every year.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Why does the Pro license support Ruby versions beyond their End-of-Life (EOL)?

The Karafka Pro license intentionally supports Ruby versions as old as 2.6+, even though newer Karafka versions require Ruby 3.0+. This design choice enables organizations with legacy deployments to upgrade to Pro features while using compatible older Karafka versions.

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Why does the Pro license support Ruby versions beyond their End-of-Life (EOL)? / Technical Context

Newer Karafka versions (2.4+) require Ruby 3.0+ due to several critical technical reasons:

- **Critical bugs in older Ruby versions** that affect features like swarm forking
- **C layer FFI bugs** that can crash Karafka under certain scenarios
- **Missing features** like fiber scheduler and fiber context that are essential for newer functionality

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Why does the Pro license support Ruby versions beyond their End-of-Life (EOL)? / Why the License Supports Older Ruby

The license was initially locked to Ruby 3.0+, which was a mistake. This restriction prevented existing Karafka users with legacy Ruby deployments from upgrading to Pro - a use case that should be supported.

Organizations running:

- Ruby 2.7 can use **Karafka 2.3.4** (the last version supporting Ruby 2.7) with Pro features
- Even older Ruby versions may use earlier compatible Karafka versions with Pro

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Why does the Pro license support Ruby versions beyond their End-of-Life (EOL)? / Key Principle

The license does not enforce Ruby version requirements because that's a **technical compatibility concern**, not a licensing concern. By keeping the license unlocked, we allow organizations to:

1. Maintain their existing Ruby infrastructure
2. Upgrade to Karafka Pro features
3. Use the newest Karafka version compatible with their Ruby version
4. Plan Ruby upgrades on their own timeline while still benefiting from Pro

This approach respects that legacy systems exist in production environments and that upgrading Ruby may not always be immediately feasible, even when upgrading to Karafka Pro is desired.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Do I require to change source of the package?

**No**. All Karafka Pro code is stored in the same package and only included and used when a valid license gem is present.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / What happens if my subscription lapses?

If we cannot charge your card, we will email you and try three more times over a week. If it still fails, your subscription will be canceled.

You'll lose access to the gem server and priority support, and Karafka Pro won't work anymore.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Do I need to replace the license for my running processes?

No. The production environment that is already started will not be affected (until the next deployment).

## Karafka Pro FAQ / How do I buy Karafka Pro?

Follow the instructions on our [website](https://karafka.io/#become-pro).

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I distribute Karafka Pro to my customers?

This is a common requirement for "on-site installs" or "appliances" sold to large corporations.

The standard license is only appropriate for SaaS usage as it does **not** allow distribution. Karafka Pro has an Appliance license option which does allow you to distribute it. The Appliance license is $18,995/yr. It allows you to distribute the Pro gem as part of your application and each of your customers to run Karafka Pro as part of your application only. Email `contact@karafka.io` to purchase.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I use Karafka Pro in my public project?

By default, **neither** the Karafka Pro license nor the Appliance license allows for usage in publicly accessible source code, whether it's an open-source project or a commercial project with public repositories. This restriction applies to **both** open-source initiatives and commercial projects that maintain public codebases. This is because both licenses are designed for commercial use within defined organizational boundaries and include restrictions on redistribution and public sharing of the codebase.

However, there are various scenarios where organizations might want to maintain public repositories while using Karafka Pro features, whether for open-source contributions or transparency in commercial projects. If you want to use Karafka Pro in your public source project, please contact us at `contact@karafka.io` to discuss your use case. We can explore potential custom agreements that could include:

- Limited usage rights for specific Pro features
- Special licensing terms for public source code integration
- Custom arrangements for commercial projects with public repositories
- Collaborative opportunities that benefit both the project and the Karafka community

Each case will be evaluated individually, considering factors such as the project's scope, impact on the community, alignment with Karafka's goals, and potential business implications. We need to carefully assess each case to ensure proper license key management and mitigate possible risks of the public codebase being used to bypass Karafka Pro licensing requirements. While we're open to supporting meaningful public source initiatives, whether open-source or commercial, we must maintain appropriate controls to prevent misuse of our commercial features through public code access.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can you transfer a license?

Licenses are **not** transferrable to another company. It is strongly recommended that you buy the license using a group email address so the license is not attached to any one employee's email address.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Do I have to share the credentials with all of my developers?

In general, **yes**. The credentials are required to download the gems and your developers will need the gems to use the commercial features.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I get a refund?

**No**. We offer a 14 days trial during which you can check out Karafka Pro capabilities.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I accidentally use Pro because it is in the same repository?

**No**. The Pro code is **never** loaded unless a valid `karafka-license` is detected.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Why do I see a "Bad username or password" message when trying to bundle install?

If you are seeing the following error when trying to `bundle install`:

```text
Fetching source index from https://gems.karafka.io/

Bad username or password for https://LOGIN@gems.karafka.io/.
Please double-check your credentials and correct them.
```

1. Check the account email's Spam/Junk folder for any billing or payment emails. You would need to purchase a new subscription if your subscription was canceled.

2. Double-check your login and password to the gem server.

3. Upgrade Bundler. Versions before 2.3.x are buggy with the gem server.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Where can I find my license credentials page URL?

You can find it in the email you received from us when you requested the Pro license via our gems UI.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Do you require any personal information, financial data, confidential/sensitive data, government data, etc.?

No. We only collect enough customer information to fill out a standard invoice for billing purposes, and customer information is never shared or sold to anyone.

Karafka license gem contains **only** the organization name.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / How do you ensure the security of your gem server?

Please read our [Security statement](https://karafka.io/docs/Pro-Security.md) for details on this manner.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / What is Karafka Data Collection and GDPR Policy?

We understand the importance of user privacy and data protection, especially in today's digital world. For this reason, we want to provide absolute clarity regarding the data practices associated with Karafka and Karafka Pro.

- **Data Collection**: Karafka and Karafka Pro do NOT collect any data from the servers they operate on. Our primary concern is to deliver functionality without infringing on the privacy of our users.

- **Logging**: The only data Karafka collects is the IP address from which the license gem request was made during the bundling process. This is purely for logging and license validation purposes. Furthermore, the date of the last request is noted, but no other identifiable information is ever collected or stored.

- **GDPR and Data Processing**: As per the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a "data processor" is an entity that processes personal data on behalf of a data controller. Since Karafka does not collect or process any data from its users, it does not act as a data processor, and therefore, GDPR-related concerns in that context do not apply to Karafka.

- **Future Changes**: Our commitment to data privacy is unwavering. We hereby affirm that this policy is not subject to change. Karafka will only introduce features or capabilities that collect data if explicitly requested by the community. Even then, all Pro and Enterprise users will be informed about that, and any such features will be turned off by default. We are and will remain committed to ensuring the privacy and trust of our users.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Does Karafka Pro stores, processes or transmits Personal Health Information?

**No**. Karafka and Karafka Pro do not store, process or transmit any information to me. Never.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Does Karafka Pro stores, processes or transmits Personally Identifiable Information?

**No**. Karafka and Karafka Pro do not store, process or transmit any information to me. Never.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Will Karafka store, process, or transmit company confidential information and data?

**No**., it will not store, process, or transmit company confidential information and data.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / How do you store, process, or transmit Payment Cardholder Information?

We do not hold your credit card information. All subscription management is done via Stripe.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / What specific PHI, PII, PCI data fields, or company confidential information and data do you collect?

**No**. Karafka and Karafka Pro do not store, process or transmit any information to me. Never.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Where is the hosting infrastructure located?

Karafka Pro gem license server operates on a high-availability infrastructure designed for high availability:

**Primary Infrastructure:**

- Hosted on Hetzner in Germany (Frankfurt)
- Served through Cloudflare's global network for performance and reliability

**Disaster Recovery & High Availability:**

- Automatic failover to geographically separated backup servers
- Health checks every 60 seconds with automatic traffic routing
- Expected downtime in case of primary servers failure: **under 2 minutes**
- Failover is load-balancer based (not DNS-based), eliminating DNS propagation delays
- During failover: existing license gems remain accessible (read-only mode)
- Your running production environments are not affected by infrastructure issues

The infrastructure uses Cloudflare for DNS management, load balancing, and automatic failover between server locations, ensuring enterprise-grade reliability for your license delivery.

Karafka and Karafka Pro are served directly from [RubyGems](https://rubygems.org).

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I use Karafka Pro with an offline license without using the Karafka gem server?

We understand that some companies have strict policies regarding their open-source supply chain, and we are happy to provide a solution that meets those needs.

Karafka can be used with an embedded/offline license without relying on our gem server. It is important to note that this mode of operation requires an Enterprise agreement.

Upon agreement, we will provide the license gem sources with installation instructions, so you can start using Karafka Pro with ease without reliance on our third-party source.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / How can I change the email associated with my subscription?

If you need to change the email associated with your subscription, you have two ways to proceed:

1. **Email**: You can send us a direct request by emailing us at `contact@karafka.io`. Ensure to include your current email address, the new one you want to use, and any relevant information about your subscription.

2. **Pro Private Slack Channel**: If you're part of the Pro private Slack channel, you can also use this platform to send your request. Just write a message explaining that you want to change the email associated with your subscription. Include your current email address and the new one you want to use.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / How can I change the credit card associated with my subscription?

If you need to update the credit card associated with your subscription, you have two ways to request it:

1. **Email**: You can send us a direct request by emailing us at `contact@karafka.io`.

2. **Pro Private Slack Channel**: If you're part of the Pro private Slack channel, you can also use this platform to send your request.
After receiving your request, we will generate a temporary link for you to update your payment method. This link will be generated through Stripe, our payment processor.

This temporary link will be sent directly from Stripe to the billing email associated with your subscription. This email will include instructions for updating your credit card information.

You will receive a confirmation email once you've successfully updated your payment method.

Please check your spam or junk folders if you don't see the email in your inbox. If you encounter any issues, feel free to contact us for further assistance.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Does the Pro license require me to use the "Source URL" in my Gemfile to fetch the license?

Yes, with the Karafka Pro license, you must fetch the license from the Source URL specified in your Gemfile. This is the standard procedure for validating and activating your Pro license subscription.

However, the Enterprise license would be more suitable if your use case requires total offline usage or involves private gem registries.

Moreover, the Enterprise license comes with additional legal benefits. These include contingency warranties, which provide safeguards against unforeseen or unexpected events, and post-contract usage warranties, which ensure that you're covered even after your contract has ended.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I use Karafka Pro with a private gem server / private registry?

Yes, however, you need a specific Enterprise agreement allowing you to leverage this capability.

Once the Enterprise agreement is made, you'll be given offline access to the license and necessary instructions on how to proceed. This type of agreement comes with additional legal benefits. These include contingency warranties, which provide safeguards against unforeseen or unexpected events, and post-contract usage warranties, which ensure that you're covered even after your contract has ended.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I pay via invoice and purchase order?

Karafka Pro is credit card only, no exceptions.

Karafka Enterprise can be purchased via invoice and purchase order if needed. Email `contact@karafka.io` for more details.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can you fill out my security or compliance documentation?

Only for Karafka Enterprise tier.

For information about why certain compliance certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001) do not apply to Karafka as a self-hosted framework, see our [Compliance Certifications](https://karafka.io/docs/Pro-Compliance-Certifications.md).

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I request a change to the license terms?

Karafka Pro is sold as is, no change to terms. Karafka Enterprise customers can ask for changes to the terms and conditions. Email your concerns and we can negotiate something.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Are there any feature related differences in between Karafka Pro and Enterprise?

**Not in terms of technical features**. The primary differences between Pro and Enterprise pertain to licensing, usage permissions, payment methods, support response times, architecture consultation, workshop session, and support for compliance documentation. With Enterprise:

1. You receive faster priority support with a maximum response time of 2 business days (compared to 4 business days for Pro).

2. You get 4 hours per year of dedicated architecture consultation with Maciej Mensfeld for architecture reviews, performance optimization, migration planning, or strategic technical discussions.

3. You have permission to continue to use Karafka in the version available on the day of license expiration or subscription termination without any subsequent updates.

4. You can legally utilize Karafka without needing my gem server for license gem download and verification.

5. You are granted extended permission to continue using your private fork of Karafka even after your license expires or your subscription ends.

6. Payments can be made via invoicing.

7. I am available to assist with any security or compliance documentation required for your organization's needs.

8. You can request a 4-hour-long live workshop specifically tailored for those embarking on your journey with Kafka and Karafka.

You can read more about those differences [here](https://karafka.io/docs/Pro-Enterprise.md).

## Karafka Pro FAQ / What is the response and resolution time for priority support with Karafka?

With Karafka Pro priority support, you'll receive an initial assessment and reply within a maximum of **4 business days**. Enterprise customers receive even faster support with a maximum response time of **2 business days**. While most issues are diagnosed, reproduced, and fixed within seven days of the report acknowledgment, complex cases might take up to a few months. Every case is unique and addressed individually.

Please note that our software is provided "as is." We recommend utilizing the trial period to thoroughly test it, as we cannot guarantee it will be entirely bug-free or that all issues will be resolved. That said, we always strive to deliver the best, and historically, there have been no unresolved bugs. However, given Kafka's complexity, situations can vary.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Where can I find a list of OSS components that the Karafka ecosystem uses?

Karafka maintains a [documentation page](https://karafka.io/docs/SBOM.md) with its runtime Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). This page lists Open Source Software (OSS) components utilized within the Karafka ecosystem.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I use one Karafka license across multiple companies within a corporate group?

Both Pro and Enterprise licenses are limited to a single legal entity that purchased it. Using the license across multiple companies, even if they are part of your group or owned by your organization, requires either:

1. Each company purchasing its own license, or
2. Upgrading to an Appliance license ($18,995/yr), or
3. Requesting a custom group companies amendment that explicitly permits usage across affiliated companies with defined ownership threshold.

For corporate groups with multiple entities, contact us at `contact@karafka.io` to discuss group licensing arrangements that may be more suitable for your organizational structure.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can contractors and agencies use my Karafka license?

The answer depends on the working relationship:

**Contractors Working on Your Project:**

Contractors who work directly on your project and your infrastructure are covered by your Karafka license. They can use your license credentials while developing and maintaining your Kafka-based applications. This is considered part of your normal development operations.

**Agencies Working Across Multiple Clients:**

Development agencies that work across multiple client projects have different requirements:

- **Client Projects**: Each client that uses Karafka in their production environment needs their own license. The agency cannot share one license across multiple client deployments.
- **Agency's Own License**: The agency only needs its own Karafka license if they are using Karafka for their own internal products or services, not for client work.

**Example Scenarios:**

- A freelance developer working on your project full-time → Covered by your license
- An agency building a Kafka-based system for your company → Covered by your license
- An agency deploying Karafka-based solutions for three different clients → Each of the three clients needs their own license
- An agency using Karafka for their own internal monitoring system → The agency needs its own license

If you have questions about your specific contractor or agency arrangement, contact us at `contact@karafka.io` to clarify the licensing requirements.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Do you provide hard commitments on feature development for Karafka Pro?

**No**, I do not provide hard commitments on specific features or delivery timelines. However, Karafka commercial subscribers have significant influence over the development roadmap through several channels:

- **Priority Support**: Pro subscribers can request features and improvements that are prioritized in our development pipeline
- **Direct Communication**: Customers have direct access to discuss their specific needs and requirements
- **Community Influence**: Active community members' feedback heavily influences feature prioritization
- **Custom Development**: For Enterprise customers, I can discuss custom development arrangements on a case-by-case basis, though never as a contracting service.

The open-source nature of Karafka means that development is driven by community needs and practical use cases rather than contractual obligations. This approach has proven effective over nearly a decade of development, ensuring that features are thoroughly tested and genuinely valuable to the community.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Do you provide consulting or contracting services?

No, I do not provide traditional consulting or contracting services. However, Karafka Pro includes comprehensive support that covers:

**What IS provided:**

- **Integration Support**: Help with Karafka and WaterDrop integration into your existing systems
- **Debugging Assistance**: Troubleshooting complex issues with your Kafka setup
- **Performance Optimization**: Guidance on optimizing your Karafka configuration for your specific use case
- **Architecture Review**: Recommendations on best practices for your Kafka-based architecture
- **Migration Support**: Help with migrating from other Kafka libraries to Karafka

**What is NOT provided:**

- Custom software development for your specific business logic
- On-site consulting engagements
- Long-term contracting arrangements
- Project management services
- Infrastructure setup and management

Karafka's support model is designed to help you successfully implement and maintain Karafka in your environment, while keeping costs reasonable and maintaining a focus on core framework development.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / How reliable is Karafka as a long-term solution?

Karafka has been in continuous development and production use for nearly 10 years, demonstrating strong reliability and longevity:

**Track Record:**

- **Production Proven**: Used by thousands of applications in production environments
- **Consistent Development**: Regular releases with continuous improvements since 2015
- **Community Support**: Active community with extensive documentation and examples
- **Kafka Expertise**: Deep understanding of Kafka internals and Ruby integration challenges

**Reliability Indicators:**

- Comprehensive test coverage with real Kafka cluster testing
- Versioning with clear upgrade paths
- Extensive documentation and migration guides
- Active issue resolution and community support

## Karafka Pro FAQ / What happens if the maintainer becomes unavailable?

Several contingency measures are implemented to ensure continuity:

**Enterprise Contingency Options:**

- **Extended Warranties**: Enterprise subscriptions include contingency warranties that provide extended support and maintenance commitments
- **Custom Agreements**: Enterprise customers can negotiate specific contingency arrangements based on their needs
- **Source Code Access**: All code remains open-source and public-source, ensuring no vendor lock-in
- **Community Governance**: The project structure allows for community maintenance if needed

**Built-in Continuity:**

- **Open Source Foundation**: The entire codebase is public-source and can be maintained by the community if needed
- **Documentation**: Comprehensive documentation enables other developers to understand and maintain the codebase
- **Standard Ruby Practices**: Code follows Ruby community standards, making it accessible to Ruby developers
- **Modular Architecture**: Components can be maintained independently if needed

For Enterprise customers concerned about long-term continuity, we offer custom agreements that can include additional guarantees and contingency planning.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I have multiple trials for my company?

Generally, we provide one trial per company. This policy ensures fair access to trial resources while maintaining the integrity of our evaluation process.

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I have multiple trials for my company? / Standard Trial Policy

- Each company is eligible for one 2-week trial period
- The initial trial can be extended to 4 weeks upon request (one extension per company)
- Multiple trials from the same organization are typically blocked

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Can I have multiple trials for my company? / Why This Policy Exists

This approach was implemented because multiple trials were previously abused, with some users repeatedly requesting new trial periods instead of making purchasing decisions.

Rather than extended trial periods, consider that Karafka Pro's monthly subscription is competitively priced and designed to be accessible for businesses of all sizes. A monthly Pro subscription often provides better value than prolonged evaluation periods, allowing you to fully integrate Pro features into your production workflow while receiving complete support.

For trial requests and extensions, reach out through the standard support channels with details about your use case and evaluation timeline.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / What happens if my payment fails or my credit card cannot be charged?

Payment issues can occur due to various reasons such as expired cards, insufficient funds, or banking restrictions. When a payment cannot be processed, a **one-month grace period** is provided to resolve the issue.

- Several attempts will be made to contact you through multiple channels during this period
- You'll receive email notifications about the payment failure
- We will do our best to work with you to resolve any billing issues
- Your license remains active during this grace period

### Karafka Pro FAQ / What happens if my payment fails or my credit card cannot be charged? / License Termination

Only if we cannot successfully reach you or resolve the payment issue within the full month will the license be terminated. This approach ensures that temporary payment problems don't immediately disrupt your production systems.

If you experience any billing issues, please contact us immediately to avoid any service interruption.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Will Karafka Pro prices increase in the future?

**Yes**, Karafka Pro prices may increase over time to reflect ongoing development, inflation, and the continuous addition of new features and capabilities.

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Will Karafka Pro prices increase in the future? / Pricing Adjustment Policy

- **Advance Notice**: All price increases will be communicated openly with **at least 3 months' advance notice** before they take effect
- **Annual Renewal**: Price changes apply at your annual renewal date, never mid-subscription
- **Transparent Communication**: Clear communication about reasons for any pricing changes
- **Fair and Predictable**: Pricing decisions are made carefully, balancing customer impact with continued framework development

### Karafka Pro FAQ / Will Karafka Pro prices increase in the future? / What This Means for You

- You'll always have sufficient time to plan and budget for any changes to your subscription costs
- Your current subscription price is locked in until your next renewal
- No surprise price changes or sudden mid-term adjustments
- Existing customers are valued, and pricing transitions are handled with consideration for long-term relationships

I believe in building sustainable, long-term partnerships with our customers. Fair pricing practices support the continuous development and improvement of Karafka while maintaining transparency and predictability for your business planning.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / What are the pricing adjustment terms for Enterprise agreements?

For Enterprise agreements, pricing adjustments are handled through negotiated terms that provide structure while maintaining flexibility for long-term partnerships.

### Karafka Pro FAQ / What are the pricing adjustment terms for Enterprise agreements? / Standard Enterprise Pricing Terms

Enterprise agreements include the following pricing adjustment framework:

- **Annual Adjustments**: Pricing may be adjusted annually with **3 months' advance notice**
- **Renewal-Based Changes**: Adjustments take effect at renewal, never mid-term during an active contract period
- **No Predetermined Caps**: There is no preset limit on adjustments, allowing pricing to reflect market conditions, inflation, and development investments
- **Transparent Communication**: All pricing changes are communicated clearly and with sufficient notice for budget planning

### Karafka Pro FAQ / What are the pricing adjustment terms for Enterprise agreements? / Why This Approach

This pricing structure ensures:

1. **Sustainable Development**: Pricing can adapt to reflect ongoing R&D, new features, and market conditions
2. **Fair Adjustments**: Annual adjustments provide predictability while avoiding locked-in pricing that becomes unsustainable
3. **Long-Term Partnerships**: Both parties can plan for the future without artificially constrained pricing that might force service changes

Enterprise customers seeking specific pricing terms should contact `contact@karafka.io` to discuss arrangements that work for both parties while maintaining the sustainability of Karafka's development.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Ethics, Privacy, and Information Usage

We only collect enough customer information to fill out a standard invoice for billing purposes. Customer information is never shared or sold to anyone.

The Karafka software runs on your servers. Karafka never has access to any private user data.

## Karafka Pro FAQ / Contact Info

```text
Maciej Mensfeld, Karafka.io
Sikorskiego 31/12
34-400 Nowy Targ
Poland

All billing/support inquiries: contact@karafka.io
NIP (VAT-ID): PL 735 261 5885
```


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*Last modified: 2026-02-13 16:17:01*