STEP 1
Select Kafka in workflow
Pick Kafka app in the workflow builder [4] - just one click to select the app.
Kafka Integration
Send messages to a Kafka topic, and start a workflow when new messages arrive on one. Works with Apache Kafka and managed services such as Confluent Cloud, Amazon MSK, Redpanda and Aiven, over TLS. Drop Kafka into any workflow on the visual canvas to shape how automations run. Combine it with 1,300+ app integrations and other built-in workflow nodes to build the exact flow you need.
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Supported triggers and actions for Kafka integration
Triggers can detect changes in Kafka and run actions that can create, search or modify data inside Kafka automatically [3] — exactly how you set them.
- Watch messagesStart a workflow when new messages arrive on a Kafka topic. Checks on your workflow schedule and keeps its own position.
- Send a messageSend a message to a Kafka topic and wait for the cluster to confirm it.
How to integrate Kafka in automation workflow?
3 simple steps to make your Kafka connected with other apps in automation workflows on WEXTL. Up to 10 minutes integration set up.
STEP 2
Connect Kafka
When prompted, authorize access to Kafka in WEXTL once. Kafka credentials are encrypted and never shared with WEXTL. Authorization will be reused in any future API calls [3].
Kafka Access Approval
WEXTL wants to integrate with your Kafka account. Approve?
STEP 3
Build a workflow
Build your workflow with Kafka yourself or with WEXTL® AI Builder. Connect Kafka to any available integrations [5], or use HTTP node to go beyond them.
Kafka
Connect Kafka to popular apps on WEXTL
Enter a name of the other app you want to sync with Kafka below. Click on selected app to explore integration options with Kafka. If the app you search for is not available in WEXTL yet, you can use HTTP node [10] instead to integrate it directly.
Example automation with Kafka integration
Select Watch messages trigger from Kafka - this will be a starting point in your automation. Whenever event happens in Kafka, workflow will start [7] from Watch messages node.
Search for Send a message, connect it as the next step of integration sequence. You can use filters between Watch messages and Send a message, so only important data pass from Watch messages to the next step. WEXTL gives you full control over the process of Kafka automation. All parts of workflow are visible on the canvas [4].
Kafka on WEXTL has 2 modules for building built-in automations. Explore Kafka documentation for more.
Kafka
Watch messages
MQTT
Performs action
OR
MQTT
Triggers
Kafka
Send a message
Demonstration of how visual Kafka automation [6] looks in WEXTL.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about automating Kafka in your workflows.
Kafka is a built-in WEXTL workflow node. In practice, send messages to a Kafka topic, and start a workflow when new messages arrive on one. Works with Apache Kafka and managed services such as Confluent Cloud, Amazon MSK, Redpanda and Aiven, over TLS. Configure the node's settings panel to control how it behaves inside your automation.
Drop Kafka onto the visual canvas alongside app integrations and other built-in workflow nodes. Connect it to the steps before and after, configure its parameters, and it runs as part of the automation every time the workflow executes.
No. Most automations are built visually on the canvas by picking triggers, actions, and mapping fields. You can add custom JavaScript with Functions when advanced logic is needed — but our customers do that in rare cases [4].
Yes. WEXTL authenticates every connection per account, encrypts credentials at rest, and lets you enforce approvals and team-level access controls on any automation that uses Kafka.
Kafka runs alongside app integrations on the same workflow canvas. It receives data from upstream steps (triggers or other nodes) and passes results to downstream steps. Refer to our Kafka Documentation for detailed inputs and outputs.
Absolutely. Kafka works with every trigger source and every app integration on WEXTL. Combine it with native app triggers, scheduled polling, or the Custom Webhook node so Kafka can react to events from any external system.
WEXTL is an AI-first visual canvas. The platform allows you to describe automation in plain text — and AI will wire nodes like Kafka inside the workflow builder [4]. You can combine Kafka with app integrations and other built-in workflow nodes (AI Agent, Human in the Loop, Condition, Aggregate Results) to build the exact flow you need.
References
List of sources used to gather information about the Kafka integration.
- Kafka integration source code, module specs and credentials implementation.
- Internal Kafka integration documentation, structured input and output parameters, scopes, and authentication methods.
- This is a built-in WEXTL® workflow node — see the Visual Workflow Builder capability page for how it's used on the canvas.
- WEXTL® Visual Workflow Builder, anonymized data from our technical support team.
- WEXTL® Apps Library
- WEXTL® Kafka App Documentation
- WEXTL® Workflow Scheduler
- WEXTL® HTTP node documentation