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Trench

trench.dev

Free plan APISelf-hosted
Visit trench.dev
Spec score 7.2 #20 of 24 in Event Tracking Software

What it is

Trench is open-source infrastructure for collecting, processing, querying, and routing real-time event data. It is built on Apache Kafka and ClickHouse, and the project says a single node can process thousands of events per second with Kafka. Users query incoming data through SQL or REST and can send it to other destinations using throttled webhooks. Trench supports the Segment specification, including Track, Identify, and Group, for server-side collection and event routing. Deployment is self-hosted: a production-ready Docker image includes Kafka, ClickHouse, and the application, and the Open Source plan runs on any cloud provider. Trench is released under the MIT License and the site describes it as GDPR compliant. The Open Source plan costs nothing, has no usage limits, and includes community support through Slack. Enterprise uses volume-based pricing and adds dedicated infrastructure, support, and deployment options.

Spec sheet

Product
Trench is open-source infrastructure for real-time event tracking and analytics.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Deployment
Trench provides a single production-ready Docker image that includes Kafka, ClickHouse, and the application.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Security
The site describes Trench as GDPR compliant.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
License
Trench is open source under the MIT License.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Headquarters
San FranciscoRead 28 Sep 2026 · trench.dev
Community support
The Open Source plan includes community support, and the site directs users to its Slack community for assistance.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Company location
The site says Trench is built in San Francisco by the team behind Frigade.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Data destinations
Trench can send data to other destinations through throttled webhooks.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Enterprise support
The Enterprise offering includes a dedicated support engineer and 24/7 phone and email support.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Event processing
Trench says it can process thousands of events per second on a single node using Kafka.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Querying
Users can query data in real time with SQL or REST.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Segment compatibility
Trench supports the Segment specification, including Track, Identify, and Group.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Technology
Trench is built on Apache Kafka and ClickHouse.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.trench.dev
Use case
The team created Trench after its Postgres event-tracking table became expensive and a performance bottleneck while serving millions of end users.Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev

Plans and prices

Open Source Free Self-host on any cloud provider · No usage limits · Community support Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev
Enterprise Priced on request Volume-based pricing Dedicated infrastructure · Dedicated support engineer · 24/7 phone and email support · On-premises deployment option · SAML 2.0 SSO · 3rd party integrations Read 8 Oct 2026 · trench.dev

Every Trench plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free Open Source plan at free
  • No usage limits on the Open Source plan
  • SQL and REST real-time querying
  • Segment Track, Identify, and Group support
  • Production Docker image bundles core components

Limits

  • Self-hosted deployment requires managing infrastructure
  • Enterprise pricing is volume-based and not listed
  • Enterprise features require the Enterprise offering

Who it suits

Trench suits teams needing self-hosted, real-time event infrastructure with SQL or REST access. It is also suited to organizations using Segment-compatible event collection and routing.

Verdict

Trench provides a self-hosted Kafka and ClickHouse foundation for real-time event workflows. Its free plan, Segment compatibility, and bundled Docker image are clearly specified, while enterprise pricing requires contacting the provider.

Where Specifiction places it

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