10 Best Apache Airflow Alternatives in 2024 for Data Orchestration

Apache Airflow has long been the go-to open-source platform for managing and orchestrating complex workflows, but its feature limitations are probing early adopters to look for alternatives.

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If you’re searching for a user-friendly low-code data orchestration tool that can process data in real-time, consider switching to Apache Airflow alternatives.

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Read on to learn if you should continue with Apache Airflow and explore the best Apache Airflow alternatives for data orchestration in 2024 if you are looking for an alternative.

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What is Airflow?

Apache Airflow is a popular open-source platform and data orchestration tool built to simplify workflow management (building, scheduling, and monitoring data workflows), and enables you to build Python-coded workflows that can easily connect with any technology.

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Key features

• Python-based DAGs: Maintain full flexibility when building workflows using Python.

• Easy to use: You will not face pipeline limitations with Apache Airflow. You can use it to build ML models, transfer data, manage your infrastructure, and more.

• Useful UI: Monitor, schedule and manage your workflows with ease. Using Airflow gives you full insight into the status and logs of ongoing and completed tasks.

• Robust integrations: Apply Airflow to current infrastructure and next-gen technologies by using its plug-and-play operators to execute tasks on Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and other third-party services.

• Open Source: Leverage its active user base on Slack to exchange information and share your improvements.

When should you consider Apache Airflow alternatives?

Increasing complexity in managing data workflows is driving organizations to explore Apache Airflow alternatives. Here are some reasons why you should look for Apache Airflow alternatives:

• You want real-time processing: Built with a batch-processing mindset, Airflow does not offer real-time data orchestration. 

• You want a no-code platform: Airflow is Python-heavy and may be too complex for data teams seeking a low-code or no-code platform. 

• You want better debugging, reporting, and error-handling capabilities: Airflow’s web interface is often criticized for being difficult to navigate when debugging failed workflows. 

• Resource Intensive: Scaling Airflow often requires substantial resources. Some alternative tools offer lightweight, distributed architectures that scale more efficiently.

• You want an easy cloud hosting feature: Airflow can be configured for cloud hosting but industry alternatives like Hevo Data and Prefect give better performance, seamless integration and cloud infrastructure.

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Top 5 Apache Airflow alternative tools for data orchestration:

Here are five of the best Apache Airflow competitors in 2024.

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#1 5X

When choosing between Apache Airflow and a full-stack platform like 5X, it is crucial to consider Airflow’s open-source community access alongside the broader capabilities of 5X. 

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5X stands out for its ease of use, particularly for businesses looking for a managed service with a no-code/low-code interface, faster setup, and built-in connectors. It's ideal for teams that want to focus on data workflows without managing the underlying infrastructure.

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Apache Airflow, on the other hand, is well regarded for its powerful, developer-focused tool that’s highly customizable. Airflow is not an ideal choice for non-developers or teams without strong DevOps expertise as you will need to invest time in manual coding, setup and maintenance. 

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G2 Rating: 4.5/5

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Cost: Pay-as-you-go, no upfront costs

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5X V/S Apache Airflow: Why 5X is a better choice for data orchestration

5X is one of the best Apache Airflow competitors in the industry. It is more user-friendly for non-developers and offers built-in cloud-native capabilities. 

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Here are some reasons why 5X may be a good alternative:

• Low-code Interface: 5X's visual interface allows users to build data pipelines and workflows without heavy coding, making it accessible to non-developers. This feature significantly reduces development time and effort.

• Real-time Processing: 5X is optimized for real-time data pipelines, making it ideal for applications that require immediate insights. This tools empowers data teams to quickly respond to errors or bottlenecks and share accurate insights with decision-makers.

• Easier Management: Designed for usability, 5X often offers a streamlined and intuitive management experience, simplifying tasks like monitoring, scheduling, and troubleshooting. 

• Built-in Integrations: 5X offers 500+ pre-built integrations with popular data sources and systems, reducing the time and effort required to connect them to your pipelines.

• Cloud-based Deployment & Management: Many 5X offerings are cloud-based, providing easier deployment and management options. Offering a fully managed cloud-native platform, 5X takes care of infrastructure, scaling, and maintenance. 

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Also read: 5X vs Redshift

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#2 Prefect

Prefect is an open-source data workflow orchestration platform that’s designed to overcome many of Airflow’s limitations. Optimised for data and ML engineers, Prefect focuses on simplicity, offering users an easy way to build and manage data pipelines with less code.

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Key features:

• Real-time Monitoring: Detailed logs and real-time feedback means that it is easier for large enterprises with lots of data to debug easily.
• Low-Code Approach: Manage your workflows with minimal code and enjoy flexibility for custom workflows when needed.
• Hybrid Execution: Run workflows in any environment (cloud or on-premise) while maintaining centralized control.

Pros:

• Low-code platform.
• Real-time orchestration.
• Easy to set up, easier to deploy.
• Excellent error handling and retry logic.

Cons:

• Less mature than Airflow.
• Fewer integrations are available.

Why Prefect is a better Airflow alternative

Prefect's hybrid model and real-time processing make it one of the best Apache alternatives for teams that need a lighter, more intuitive solution without sacrificing flexibility. 

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G2 Rating: 4.5/5

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Cost: Prefect has a free version. Price starts at $1,850/mo for startups and small teams.

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#3 Hevo Data

Hevo Data is a zero-maintenance data pipeline platform that allows you to auto-sync data from all your sources to the warehouse without requiring maintenance. Known for simplifying workflow automation through its intuitive UI, Hevo Data is one of the best Airflow competitors today.

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Key features:

• No-code platform: Suited for non-technical and technical users.
• Real-time data: Real-time data streaming across multiple platforms and databases.
• Automatic Schema Mapping: Auto-detects changes in schema and adjusts data pipelines.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface.
• Fully managed service with automatic scaling.
• Delivers 100% data accuracy, 99.9% uptime, and timely system alerts.
• End-to-end encryption ensures the highest standards of data security.

Cons:

• Only 150+ plug-and-play integrations and 15+ destinations.
• Pricing can be high for large-scale data operations.
• Less flexibility in comparison to Airflow for custom pipelines.

Why Hevo Data is a better Airflow alternative:

Hevo Data’s no-code approach and cloud-native features that Airflow does not have.

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G2 Rating: 4.3/5

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Cost: Hevo Data is free for 1M events/month and the package starts at $ 239/Month.

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#4 Dagster

Dagster is an open-source orchestrator that runs with Python and focuses on data-first workflows. A standout feature of using this tool is its quick testing and asset-centric development, which enables companies to focus on delivering resources rather than executing individual tasks.

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Key features:

• Fully serverless: No need to manage servers, storage, or compute resources.
• Hybrid deployment: Easily run your workload on the cloud or on-premises.
• Rich UI: Modern web-based UI for managing and debugging workflows.

Pros:

• Dagster is ideal for both startups and large enterprises.
• Easy integration with the tools you already use.
• Quick workflow deployment as the tool is pre-configured.

Cons:

• It has a smaller community.
• Fewer integrations than Airflow.
• Less mature than other tools.
• The tool may get too complicated for non-developers.
• Unpredictable pricing due to varying billing rates incurred per minute of compute time.

Why Dagster is a better Airflow alternative

Dagster's data-driven design and emphasis on types and dependencies make it an excellent alternative for data-centric teams that need more workflow control.

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G2 Rating: No rating is available yet.

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Cost: 30 days free trial. Starts at $100/month for up to 3 users.

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Also read: Top Matillion Alternatives

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#5 Mage AI

Mage AI is a data orchestration tool offering a hybrid framework for transforming and integrating data. Known for updating data workflows by integrating and synchronizing data from 3rd party sources easily, Mage AI has become one of the most innovative Airflow competitors in 2024. You can try the live tool that Mage AI has hosted on its homepage to see if this tool matches your requirements.

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Key features

• Code in your preferred programming language: Write code in Python, SQL, or R in the same data pipeline for ultimate flexibility.
• Built-in tools for optimal performance: Each step in your pipeline is a standalone file containing modular code that’s reusable and testable with data validations. 
• Intuitive UI: Operationalize your pipelines with built-in monitoring, alerting, and observability through an intuitive UI.

Pros:

• Multiple choice of programming languages.
• Instant feedback for every code you run in development.
• Deploy Mage to AWS, GCP, Azure, or DigitalOcean with only 2 commands.
• Built-in monitoring, alerting, and observability features.

Cons:

• New tool, limited community support.
• Not enough integrations or third-party tools are available.

Why Mage AI is a better Airflow alternative

Mage AI is better for you if ease of use, faster deployment, managed scaling, and a lower technical barrier are priorities. It shines for teams with limited engineering resources or non-technical users.

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G2 Rating: No rating is available yet.

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Cost: Mage AI is free for you if your platform is self-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure, or Digital Ocean).

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Which solution works best for you?

When deciding on Apache Airflow alternatives for your data orchestration needs, it’s crucial to match the tool to your specific use case. Here's how different scenarios might guide your choice:

• 5X: Real-time processing makes it more suited for time-sensitive data pipelines and its low code platform makes it a great choice for non-technical and technical teams. 
• Prefect: Ideal for large enterprises with big data volumes as its detailed logs and real-time feedback makes debugging easier.
• Hevo Data: Ideal for companies who prioritise data security.
• Dagster: A good choice for data engineers building complex workflows.
• Mage AI: Better suited to teams that want flexibility in writing code.

At 5X, we've built our platform to be easy to use and comprehensive. We focus on making your data journey smooth and cost-effective, with all the tools you need in one package. Whether you’re looking to streamline your operations or get quicker insights, 5X is designed to help you achieve that.

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5X is also the only all in one platform which runs a full service data consultancy. What this means is we are able to provide long term resources or come in and do project based implementations to help you get started. Data platform + Data services = Data as a service.

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Explore the 5X platform today and see how it can streamline your data workflows for better business outcomes.

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