SHSelfHostIndex

Apache DolphinScheduler vs Dagster

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
AP Apache DolphinScheduler Distributed visual workflow scheduling platform VS Dagster Data orchestrator for the full development lifecycle
FeatureApache DolphinSchedulerDagster
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score94 · Excellent95 · Excellent
CategoryAutomation & WorkflowsAutomation & Workflows
LicenseApache-2.0Apache-2.0
LanguageJavaPython
Setup difficultyHardMedium
Min. RAM2,048 MB2,048 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetes, bare-metaldocker, kubernetes, helm
GitHub stars★ 14,499★ 16,199
First released20192019
ReplacesAWS Step Functions, Azure Data FactoryAWS Step Functions, Azure Data Factory

What are Apache DolphinScheduler and Dagster?

Apache DolphinScheduler

Apache DolphinScheduler is a distributed, extensible workflow scheduler with a visual drag-and-drop interface. It is designed for big data and ETL job orchestration with high reliability.

  • Visual DAG workflow designer
  • Distributed and decentralized scheduling
  • Multi-tenant support
  • Rich task type plugins

Read the full Apache DolphinScheduler guide →

Dagster

Dagster is an orchestration platform for data assets that emphasizes testability and observability. It models pipelines around the assets they produce and can be fully self-hosted.

  • Asset-oriented orchestration
  • Built-in testing and typing
  • Integrated data lineage
  • Web-based control plane

Read the full Dagster guide →

Apache DolphinScheduler vs Dagster: key differences

Apache DolphinScheduler is written in Java, while Dagster is built with Python.

Why pick each one

Choose Apache DolphinScheduler if…

  • Friendly visual interface
  • Scales horizontally

Watch out for

  • Heavy Java-based stack
Apache DolphinScheduler details

Choose Dagster if…

  • Strong developer tooling
  • Great for data-centric teams

Watch out for

  • Conceptual model takes time to learn
Dagster details

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache DolphinScheduler or Dagster better?

Dagster is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Apache DolphinScheduler if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Apache DolphinScheduler and Dagster free and open-source?

Yes. Apache DolphinScheduler is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Dagster under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Apache DolphinScheduler and Dagster with Docker?

Apache DolphinScheduler: yes. Dagster: yes.

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