Amplication vs Reflex
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Amplication | Reflex |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 98 · Excellent |
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 16,016 | ★ 28,900 |
| First released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Retool, Hasura | Streamlit, Retool |
What are Amplication and Reflex?
Amplication
Amplication is an open-source backend development platform that generates production-ready Node.js applications with APIs, authentication and database access. It can be self-hosted to build and manage services.
- Generates Node.js backends
- REST and GraphQL APIs
- Built-in auth
- Plugin system
Reflex
Reflex is an open-source framework for building and deploying full-stack web applications entirely in Python without writing JavaScript. The compiled apps can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure.
- Pure Python web apps
- No JavaScript needed
- Built-in components
- Self-hostable deploys
Amplication vs Reflex: key differences
Amplication is written in TypeScript, while Reflex is built with Python. Reflex is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Amplication. Amplication is the more established project (first released 2020), while Reflex arrived in 2022.
Why pick each one
Choose Amplication if…
- Generates production boilerplate
- Auth included out-of-box
- Git sync workflow
Watch out for
- Node.js stack only
- Some features paid
Choose Reflex if…
- Pure Python full stack
- No JavaScript needed
- Compiles to React
Watch out for
- Node.js build dependency
- API still evolving
Frequently asked questions
Is Amplication or Reflex better?
Neither is universally better. Reflex has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Amplication and Reflex free and open-source?
Yes. Amplication is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Reflex under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Amplication and Reflex with Docker?
Amplication: yes. Reflex: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Amplication or Reflex?
Reflex has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Amplication. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.