Automa vs Windmill
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Windmill
Developer platform for scripts, flows and apps
| Feature | Automa | Windmill |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 95 · Excellent |
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vue | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 21,640 | ★ 18,022 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Zapier, UiPath | Zapier, Retool |
What are Automa and Windmill?
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
Windmill
Windmill is a developer platform that turns scripts into workflows, APIs, and internal apps with scheduling and approvals. It targets engineers automating internal tooling. It is deployed via Docker with PostgreSQL.
- Scripts in Python, TypeScript and more
- Auto-generated UIs for scripts
- Flows with branching and retries
- Fast Rust execution engine
Automa vs Windmill: key differences
Automa is written in Vue, while Windmill is built with Rust. Licensing differs — MIT for Automa versus AGPL-3.0 for Windmill. Automa is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Windmill. Windmill 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 Windmill if…
- Great for developer automation
- Fast and scalable
- Code-first approach
Watch out for
- More technical than no-code tools
- Requires Postgres
Frequently asked questions
Is Automa or Windmill better?
Automa is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Windmill if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Automa and Windmill free and open-source?
Yes. Automa is licensed under MIT and Windmill under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Automa and Windmill with Docker?
Automa: check the project docs for container support. Windmill: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Automa or Windmill?
Automa has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Windmill. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.