Apache Airflow: Pricing, Features & Alternatives
Airflow defines workflows (DAGs) in Python, schedules them and gives you a web UI to watch and rerun tasks, with provider packages for most clouds and data tools. It is an Apache Software Foundation project, free to run; version 3.4.0 (November 2026) added task loops, DAGs written in other languages and AI agent tasks. You either run it yourself or rent it from a managed host such as Astronomer, Amazon MWAA or Google Cloud Composer.
Who it’s for: Data teams that want a vendor-neutral orchestrator with a large integration ecosystem, self-hosted or rented from a managed provider.
Category
Data Orchestration
Pricing
Free tier available
Free tier
Yes
Best for
Data Orchestration: open source, Python DAGs, integrations
Apache Airflow at a Glance
- What it is
- Open-source workflow orchestrator
- Workflows written in
- Python (other languages from 3.4)
- Licence
- Apache 2.0
- Managed option
- Third-party: Astronomer, MWAA, Cloud Composer
- Free access
- Free
Checked November 2026 against Apache Airflow.
Apache Airflow Pricing Plans (2026)
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Open sourcePopular | $0 (Apache 2.0) |
Pricing summary: Free. Always confirm current pricing on the official site.
Key Apache Airflow Features
- Apache Software Foundation project, free to run
- Workflows (DAGs) written in Python, with a web UI to monitor and rerun tasks
- Airflow 3.4.0 (November 2026) adds task loops, DAGs in any language and AI agent tasks
- Provider packages for the major clouds and data tools
- Managed hosting from Astronomer, Amazon MWAA or Google Cloud Composer
Pros
- +Free and vendor-neutral
- +Huge integration catalogue
- +Easy to hire for
- +Managed versions on every big cloud
Cons
- −Running the scheduler and workers yourself is real work
- −Task-centric rather than data-asset-centric
- −Local development is heavier than newer tools
Best Apache Airflow Alternatives
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Apache Airflow FAQ
What is Apache Airflow used for?⌄
Apache Airflow is a data orchestration tool. The Apache project for writing, scheduling and monitoring data workflows as Python code. Free and self-hosted.
Is Apache Airflow free?⌄
Yes. Apache Airflow has a free tier you can start with, and paid plans for more usage and features.
How much does Apache Airflow cost?⌄
Apache Airflow is free to use.
What are the best Apache Airflow alternatives?⌄
Popular Apache Airflow alternatives include Dagster, Prefect, Kestra. Compare pricing and features on our Apache Airflow alternatives page.
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