Lowdefy vs Windmill
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Lowdefy
Build internal tools and web apps from YAML config
VS
Windmill
Developer platform for scripts, flows and apps
| Feature | Lowdefy | Windmill |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Automation & Workflows |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,996 | ★ 17,474 |
| First released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Retool, Appsmith | Zapier, Retool |
Why pick each one
Choose Lowdefy if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
Choose Windmill if…
- Great for developer automation
- Fast and scalable
- Code-first approach
Frequently asked questions
Is Lowdefy or Windmill better?
Neither is universally better. Windmill has the larger community, while Lowdefy is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Lowdefy and Windmill free and open-source?
Yes. Lowdefy is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Windmill under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lowdefy and Windmill with Docker?
Lowdefy: yes. Windmill: yes.