Automa vs Kestra
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Kestra
Declarative orchestration and scheduling platform
| Feature | Automa | Kestra |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 97 · Excellent |
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Vue | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 21,640 | ★ 28,316 |
| First released | 2021 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Zapier, UiPath | Zapier, Make |
What are Automa and Kestra?
Automa
Automa is an open-source browser extension that automates repetitive web tasks using a visual block-based workflow builder. Workflows run locally in the browser and can be scheduled or triggered.
- Visual workflow builder
- Browser task automation
- Scheduling and triggers
- Runs locally
Kestra
Kestra is an event-driven orchestration platform for building and scheduling data and automation workflows declared in YAML. It targets data engineers and platform teams. It is deployed via Docker.
- Declarative YAML workflows
- Event-driven and scheduled runs
- Rich plugin ecosystem
- Built-in UI and API
Automa vs Kestra: key differences
Automa is written in Vue, while Kestra is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for Automa versus Apache-2.0 for Kestra. Automa is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Kestra. Kestra lists first-class Docker deployment; Automa does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Automa if…
- Visual block builder
- Runs entirely locally
- Scheduling and triggers
Watch out for
- Browser extension only
- Complex flows get fiddly
Choose Kestra if…
- Strong for data orchestration
- Scalable architecture
- Open-source license
Watch out for
- Steeper learning curve
- Heavier resource needs
Frequently asked questions
Is Automa or Kestra better?
Neither is universally better. Kestra has the larger community, while Automa is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Automa and Kestra free and open-source?
Yes. Automa is licensed under MIT and Kestra under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Automa and Kestra with Docker?
Automa: check the project docs for container support. Kestra: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Automa or Kestra?
Automa has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Kestra. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.