Inngest vs Apache DolphinScheduler
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?
Inngest
Event-driven workflow and background job platform
VS
Apache DolphinScheduler
Distributed visual workflow scheduling platform
| Feature | Inngest | Apache DolphinScheduler |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,701 | ★ 14,412 |
| First released | 2021 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Zapier, AWS Step Functions | AWS Step Functions, Azure Data Factory |
Why pick each one
Choose Apache DolphinScheduler if…
- Friendly visual interface
- Scales horizontally
Frequently asked questions
Is Inngest or Apache DolphinScheduler better?
Neither is universally better. Apache DolphinScheduler has the larger community, while Inngest is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Inngest and Apache DolphinScheduler free and open-source?
Yes. Inngest is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Apache DolphinScheduler under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Inngest and Apache DolphinScheduler with Docker?
Inngest: yes. Apache DolphinScheduler: yes.