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Apache DolphinScheduler vs Prefect

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 PR Prefect Modern workflow orchestration for data and Python pipelines
FeatureApache DolphinSchedulerPrefect
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score94 · Excellent97 · Excellent
CategoryAutomation & WorkflowsAutomation & Workflows
LicenseApache-2.0Apache-2.0
LanguageJavaPython
Setup difficultyHardMedium
Min. RAM2,048 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetes, bare-metaldocker, kubernetes, helm
GitHub stars★ 14,499★ 23,913
First released20192018
ReplacesAWS Step Functions, Azure Data FactoryAWS Step Functions, Azure Data Factory

What are Apache DolphinScheduler and Prefect?

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 →

Prefect

Prefect is a workflow orchestration tool that turns Python functions into observable, schedulable pipelines. The open-source server can be self-hosted to coordinate and monitor flow runs.

  • Pythonic flow and task definitions
  • Dynamic, event-driven workflows
  • Self-hostable orchestration server
  • Rich observability dashboard

Read the full Prefect guide →

Apache DolphinScheduler vs Prefect: key differences

Apache DolphinScheduler is written in Java, while Prefect is built with Python. Prefect is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Apache DolphinScheduler.

Why pick each one

Choose Apache DolphinScheduler if…

  • Friendly visual interface
  • Scales horizontally

Watch out for

  • Heavy Java-based stack
Apache DolphinScheduler details

Choose Prefect if…

  • Pleasant developer experience
  • Flexible dynamic workflows

Watch out for

  • Some features tied to Prefect Cloud
Prefect details

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache DolphinScheduler or Prefect better?

Prefect 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 Prefect free and open-source?

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

Can I run Apache DolphinScheduler and Prefect with Docker?

Apache DolphinScheduler: yes. Prefect: yes.

Which is lighter on resources, Apache DolphinScheduler or Prefect?

Prefect has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Apache DolphinScheduler. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.

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