Best workflow orchestration tools
Tools engineers use to schedule, run and monitor data pipelines and multi-step jobs as code, from Apache Airflow to Prefect, Dagster and Kestra.
12 apps, ordered by visits from AppBreakup and how often our research lists each one as an alternative. Open any app to see its alternatives.
All workflow orchestration tools
- Alternatives to Apache Airflow
Open source platform for writing, scheduling and monitoring data pipelines as Python code.
Open sourceSelf-hostableLinux, Self-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Prefect
Python workflow orchestration framework with a managed cloud for scheduling and monitoring pipelines.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Linux, macOS, Windows, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Astronomer (Astro)
Managed Apache Airflow platform for running and monitoring data pipelines without operating Airflow yourself.
PaidWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Argo Workflows
Open-source, Kubernetes-native workflow engine where each step runs as a container.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted - Alternatives to Dagster
Open source data orchestrator built around data assets, with lineage, catalog and quality checks.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Linux, macOS, Windows, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Google Cloud Composer (Managed Airflow)
Google Cloud's fully managed Apache Airflow service, formerly called Cloud Composer.
PaidWeb - Alternatives to Flyte
Open-source orchestrator for data, ML and AI pipelines written in Python, running on Kubernetes.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted - Alternatives to Inngest
Durable execution service for event-driven background functions, queues and AI workflows.
Open sourceWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Trigger.dev
Open-source platform for running long background jobs, workflows and AI agents written in TypeScript.
Open sourceWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Temporal
Open-source durable execution platform for writing failure-proof workflows in code, with a managed cloud option.
Open sourceWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Amazon MWAA
- Alternatives to Control-M
BMC's enterprise workflow orchestration and job scheduling platform, as SaaS or on-premises.
PaidSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted
Our picks by need
Best for most people
Apache AirflowBest for a free option
PrefectBest for open source
Argo WorkflowsBest for self-hosting
DagsterBest for Mac
PrefectBest for Windows
PrefectBest for Linux
Apache AirflowPopular comparisons
Common questions
What are the best workflow orchestration tools?
Based on how often our research lists them as alternatives and visits from AppBreakup, the leading workflow orchestration tools right now are Apache Airflow, Prefect, Astronomer (Astro), Argo Workflows and Dagster.
Are there free workflow orchestration tools?
Yes. Apache Airflow (open source), Prefect (open source), Argo Workflows (open source), Dagster (open source) and Flyte (open source) have a free option, out of 8 free or freemium apps we track.
Which workflow orchestration tools are open source?
Apache Airflow, Prefect, Argo Workflows, Dagster and Flyte.