Apache DolphinScheduler
Apache DolphinScheduler: A capable self-hosted choice for teams building and operating visual data workflows. Ranked #6 of 36 in Workflow Orchestration Software by our editors (8.9/10); pricing: Open source; best for open-source visual DAG orchestration.
At a glance
- Editor score8.9 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forOpen-source visual DAG orchestration
- Paid fromFree
- Founded2017
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Visual drag-and-drop DAG creation with complex dependencies
- Backfills, recovery, reruns, versioning, and instance history
- Broad integrations across data, infrastructure, and ML tools
Where it doesn't
- Self-managed deployment requires infrastructure ownership
- No hosted SaaS deployment model is provided
- Operational scope may exceed simple scheduling needs
Our verdict on Apache DolphinScheduler
Apache DolphinScheduler is an open-source workflow orchestration platform for organizations building and operating data pipelines. Its web interface supports visual drag-and-drop DAG creation, while the Python SDK and Open API support programmatic workflow development. Teams can model complex task and cross-workflow dependencies, manage versions and instance history, and apply multi-tenancy and permission controls. Deployment is self-hosted through standalone, cluster, Docker, or Kubernetes configurations, making it suited to teams that want control over their orchestration environment.
The platform’s strongest area is operational workflow depth. Users can backfill workflows and pause, stop, recover, or rerun workflow operations. Real-time monitoring covers master, worker, database, and task activity, giving operators visibility into execution. Built-in task types and integrations span MySQL, PostgreSQL, Hive, Trino, Spark, Flink, Kubernetes, HTTP, Python, MLflow, Amazon SageMaker, and DVC. That breadth makes DolphinScheduler a practical fit for data teams whose workflows cross databases, processing engines, infrastructure, and machine-learning tools.
DolphinScheduler’s self-managed model is both a source of control and a responsibility. Organizations must operate the deployment rather than selecting a hosted SaaS option, so it is better suited to teams with the infrastructure capability to manage a web, API, and orchestration environment. The feature set may also be more than a small team needs for straightforward scheduled jobs. Choose it when visual DAGs, dependency management, recovery controls, monitoring, permissions, and deployment flexibility matter. Consider a simpler scheduling product when the requirement is limited to basic recurring tasks.
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Apache DolphinScheduler pricing
Apache DolphinScheduler fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Visual workflow builder | Yes |
| Event triggers | Not verified |
| Automatic retries | Not verified |
| Execution observability | Yes |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted |
| Human approvals | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Linux |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 12 integrations: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Hive, Trino, Spark, Flink … |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | dolphinscheduler.apache.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Apache DolphinScheduler integrations
Apache DolphinScheduler lists 12 integrations on its own site.
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- Hive
- Trino
- Spark
- Flink
- Kubernetes
- HTTP
- Python
- MLflow
- Amazon SageMaker
- DVC
Alternatives to Apache DolphinScheduler
- AWS Step FunctionsA strong AWS-native choice for state-machine orchestration and event-driven automation.9.3
- Apache AirflowA mature self-hosted choice for teams building Python-based data workflows.9.2
- BMC Control-MA broad, governed orchestration suite for complex enterprise workloads, priced for large organizations.9.1
See all Apache DolphinScheduler alternatives →
Apache DolphinScheduler vs the competition
- Apache DolphinScheduler vs AWS Step Functions
- Apache DolphinScheduler vs Apache Airflow
- Apache DolphinScheduler vs BMC Control-M
- Apache DolphinScheduler vs jBPM
- Apache DolphinScheduler vs Camunda
- Apache DolphinScheduler vs Google Cloud Workflows
Compare Apache DolphinScheduler with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Apache DolphinScheduler is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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