Sold by: Lenses
Deployed on AWS
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Lenses, Realtime streaming DataOps at the heart of your Business Operations
4.2
Overview
Lenses is the only Developer Experience to operate every Apache Kafka, including Amazon MSK, in one place. With Lenses' granular IAM controls, UI, SQL engine, CLI and as-code functionality, engineers can have self-service access to find, explore, govern, process and integrate data without the reliance of centralized Platform Engineering teams.
Highlights
- Data Visibility with SQL
- Data Governance
- Kubernetes ready
Details
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Delivery method
Delivery option
Lenses EC2
Latest version
Operating system
AmazonLinux 2.0.20200904.0
Deployed on AWS
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Introducing multi-product solutions
You can now purchase comprehensive solutions tailored to use cases and industries.
Features and programs
Financing for AWS Marketplace purchases
AWS Marketplace now accepts line of credit payments through the PNC Vendor Finance program. This program is available to select AWS customers in the US, excluding NV, NC, ND, TN, & VT.
Pricing
Free trial
Try this product free for 14 days according to the free trial terms set by the vendor. Usage-based pricing is in effect for usage beyond the free trial terms. Your free trial gets automatically converted to a paid subscription when the trial ends, but may be canceled any time before that.
Pricing is based on actual usage, with charges varying according to how much you consume. Subscriptions have no end date and may be canceled any time. Alternatively, you can pay upfront for a contract, which typically covers your anticipated usage for the contract duration. Any usage beyond contract will incur additional usage-based costs.
Additional AWS infrastructure costs may apply. Use the AWS Pricing Calculator to estimate your infrastructure costs.
Dimension | Cost/hour |
|---|---|
m5.2xlarge | $6.849 |
m4.xlarge | $3.425 |
t2.large | $2.055 |
Dimensions summary
You pay by the hour based on the AWS EC2 instance size that runs Lenses. Three instance options are available: m5.2xlarge, m4.xlarge, and t2.large. Each represents a different compute capacity, so your hourly rate scales with the instance you choose. You select one instance type to match your workload needs. Billing is usage-based, so charges accrue for the hours the software runs. Lenses connects to your own Kafka clusters, letting you build and operate streaming applications on the compute you select.
Top-of-mind questions for buyers
Each option maps to an AWS EC2 instance size. The m5.2xlarge and m4.xlarge are larger compute instances, while the t2.large offers a smaller footprint. Your hourly rate reflects the instance you pick. Choose the size that fits your Kafka workload and expected concurrent activity.
Software charges accrue only for the hours the instance runs. Fully stopped instances do not incur software fees. Note that stopped instances may still carry underlying AWS storage costs for attached volumes, which are separate from the Lenses software metering.
No. You pay by the EC2 instance-hour, not by cluster count or data volume. Lenses connects to your own Kafka clusters. Adding clusters does not change your hourly rate; only the instance type you run drives the software charge.
lenses.io
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Vendor refund policy
Lenses does not currently offer refunds
Legal
Vendor terms and conditions
Upon subscribing to this product, you must acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the vendor's End User License Agreement (EULA) .
Content disclaimer
Vendors are responsible for their product descriptions and other product content. AWS does not warrant that vendors' product descriptions or other product content are accurate, complete, reliable, current, or error-free.
Delivery details
Lenses EC2
This option will launch Lenses for AWS AMI in EC2 with VPC Support, a CloudWatch log group, an IAM Role and Security group for your instance. Version 5.0.0-rc provides new initial dynamic configuration, via the Wizard mode only, after EC2 instance start. A next release 5.0.0 will include auto-provisioning. Also upgrades from the previous 4.3 version can be performed only if LensesStorage is postgres. Make sure to either backup your local H2 database, or move storage option to Postgresql, before upgrade.
CloudFormation Template (CFT)
AWS CloudFormation templates are JSON or YAML-formatted text files that simplify provisioning and management on AWS. The templates describe the service or application architecture you want to deploy, and AWS CloudFormation uses those templates to provision and configure the required services (such as Amazon EC2 instances or Amazon RDS DB instances). The deployed application and associated resources are called a "stack."
Version release notes
Additional details
Usage instructions
Access the application via a browser at http://<public_dns>/:<LENSES_PORT>
Resources
Vendor resources
Support
Vendor support
Visit https://www.lenses.io/resources/#support where you can troubleshoot issues and find answers to commonly asked questions. Support packages available for Enterprize subscriptions
AWS infrastructure support
AWS Support is a one-on-one, fast-response support channel that is staffed 24x7x365 with experienced and technical support engineers. The service helps customers of all sizes and technical abilities to successfully utilize the products and features provided by Amazon Web Services.
Updated weekly
By Lenses
By Factor House
By DeltaStream: Powered by Apache Flink
Top
25
In Big Data, Application Development, Monitoring
Top
10
In Analytic Platforms, Monitoring, Application Development
Top
25
In ELT/ETL
Sentiment is AI generated from actual customer reviews on AWS and G2
Functionality
Ease of use
Customer service
Cost effectiveness
Positive reviews
Mixed reviews
Negative reviews
AI generated from product descriptions
SQL Query Engine
SQL engine for querying and analyzing streaming data within Apache Kafka and Amazon MSK environments
Data Governance
Granular controls and mechanisms for managing data access, compliance, and data lifecycle across Kafka clusters
Identity and Access Management
Granular IAM controls enabling role-based access and self-service permissions for engineers
Kubernetes Compatibility
Native support and readiness for deployment and operation within Kubernetes environments
Multi-Interface Operations
Multiple operational interfaces including UI, CLI, and as-code functionality for managing Kafka clusters
Multi-Cluster Management
Manage up to 12 Kafka clusters from a single instance for centralized control and operational efficiency.
Message Search and Filtering
Search and filter millions of messages using kJQ predicates with JQ-like query language syntax, and support for natural language search via AI provider integration.
Role-Based Access Control and Authentication
Enterprise-grade security with Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Single Sign-On (SSO) via SAML, LDAP, and OpenID, along with comprehensive audit logs for all user actions.
Data Masking and Redaction
Enforce data governance policies to protect sensitive personally identifiable information and credit card data through masking and redaction capabilities.
Real-Time Topology Monitoring
Comprehensive real-time visibility into Kafka topology including brokers, topics, partitions, consumer groups, offsets, and Schema Registry with built-in metrics for throughput, partition lag, and message rates.
Stream Processing Engine
Apache Flink-powered platform for real-time analytics and materialized views using SQL
Data Connectivity
Support for multiple streaming data sources including Amazon Kinesis and Apache Kafka with unified streaming catalog organization
Access Control
Role-based access control (RBAC) for authorization of streaming data access without manual ACL management
Streaming ETL Capabilities
Transform, enrich, and aggregate event streams through streaming data pipelines and materialized views
Deployment Options
Serverless architecture with flexibility to deploy in customer VPC or use cloud service without cluster provisioning
Standard contract
No
No
Customer reviews
Sports
Clear Visualization with Minor Usability Hiccups
Reviewed on Nov 28, 2025
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
This tool simplifies the process of visualizing your Kafka resources. The topics are presented in a clear and organized manner, and the way data is displayed is visually appealing, which makes working with it more comfortable.
What do you dislike about the product?
Some features introduce a risk of vendor lock-in, which could limit flexibility and interoperability in the future.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It helps users understand and validate data flows, ensuring systems work as expected.
Juan Luis d.
Easy to Use but Lacks Robust Documentation
Reviewed on Nov 19, 2025
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
I find Lenses to be extremely easy to use, which is a significant advantage in my work as a platform engineer on a Kafka platform. The intuitive design makes it accessible for both experienced individuals as well as those who are not very familiar with Kafka development. This ease of use extends to its specific SQL, which provides a straightforward way to troubleshoot problem cases and check topic metrics. The user-friendly nature of Lenses enhances productivity and efficiency, making my workflow smoother when dealing with complex tasks.
What do you dislike about the product?
There are ongoing bugs within Lenses that remain unresolved, highlighting a potential lack of responsiveness or prioritization in bug fixes, which affects my workflow. Additionally, there's a noted absence of a future vision for the product, hinting at stagnation or a lack of updates that keep pace with evolving user needs. A significant drawback is the insufficient and unclear documentation, which complicates the proper utilization and setup of certain features, including the use of their helm chart for setup. This lack of documentation makes it challenging to take full advantage of the product's capabilities. Overall, these issues contribute to a reluctance in recommending the product highly.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Lenses to troubleshoot Kafka problems and check topic metrics. It's easy to use for both experienced and new Kafka developers, thanks to its specific SQL. However, some functions need better documentation and there are unsolved bugs.
berta m.
Facilitate Interaction with Configurations, Enhancable Schema Inference
Reviewed on Nov 19, 2025
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
I really like Lenses because of the ease with which clients can interact with their configurations. We offer this tool to the community because it's easy to intuit where the resources we need are, which simplifies interaction with elements like topics, consumers, and schemas.
What do you dislike about the product?
I don't like the inference it makes from the schema registry, as it is not entirely optimal.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Lenses makes it easy for customers to interact with their configurations and is intuitive for locating the necessary resources.
Retail
The UI is simple and beginner-friendly, but may feel too basic for advanced users.
Reviewed on Nov 19, 2025
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
The UI is simple and effective. For example, the topics listing easy to use and start working with.
What do you dislike about the product?
The platform has shown little progress over the years. I have been using Lenses for more than three years, and there have not been any significant changes. When version 6 was released, it introduced a new interface, but the same issues remain: the ACLs listing is still too basic, there is no high availability, and the deployment process is complicated.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Data Observability and integration would my main purpose based on the user. It helps users to validate and audit the data they are producing or consuming and moving data from one place to another. Features like the SQL processors are really powerful tools but used mainly for validating that the data is in the right place.
Apparel & Fashion
Using Lenses for years, pros and cons
Reviewed on Nov 18, 2025
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
It is user friendly, easy to use and to get used to work with it. The amount of information shown and features is fine for a product like this
What do you dislike about the product?
Customer support and roadmap clarity definitely needs improvement, the product has been the same for the last years, lacking some features such as high availability. Any new feature has been released under additional licenses
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It offers a UI on top of the Kafka platform, providing product teams and users a visual experience of their assets