Best AWS Step Functions Alternatives in 2026
The top AWS Step Functions alternatives are Apache Airflow, BMC Control-M and jBPM: 15 workflow orchestration software our editors would look at instead of AWS Step Functions, in our ranking order.
AWS Step Functions: A strong AWS-native choice for state-machine orchestration and event-driven automation. Where it falls short: cloud deployment model limits use outside AWS-hosted environments.
Switching from AWS Step Functions? For most workflow orchestration software buyers the best AWS Step Functions alternative is Apache Airflow, built for mature open-source data workflows. On a budget, Dagster starts at $10/mo.
Why People Look for an AWS Step Functions Alternative
- Cloud deployment model limits use outside AWS-hosted environments
- Standard Workflows charge for state transitions, including retries
- Express Workflows target executions lasting up to five minutes
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallApache Airflow9.2
Mature open-source data workflows
Visit Apache Airflow - Lowest priceDagster8.2
Paid plans from $10/mo
Visit Dagster - Best free optionApache Airflow9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Apache Airflow
All 15 AWS Step Functions Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forMature open-source data workflows
A mature self-hosted choice for teams building Python-based data workflows.
- Human approvals
- Automatic retries
- Event triggers
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Apache Airflow -
Best forLarge-enterprise governed automation
A broad, governed orchestration suite for complex enterprise workloads, priced for large organizations.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit BMC Control-M -
Best forJava BPMN and rules-based processes
A developer-focused engine for durable BPMN, rules, events, and human-task workflows.
- Visual workflow builder
- Automatic retries
- Event triggers
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit jBPM -
Best forEnterprise BPMN and AI-enabled orchestration
Enterprise BPMN orchestration with AI agents, human approvals, and self-managed or SaaS deployment.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Camunda -
Best forOpen-source visual DAG orchestration
A capable self-hosted choice for teams building and operating visual data workflows.
- Visual workflow builder
- Execution observability
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forGoogle Cloud service orchestration
A low-cost managed workflow engine for coordinating Google Cloud services and APIs.
- Human approvals
- Automatic retries
- Event triggers
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forDurable code-defined workflows
A code-first choice for durable execution, retries, approvals, and long-running workflows.
- Human approvals
- Automatic retries
- Event triggers
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Temporal -
Best forOpen-source orchestration with broad integrations
A flexible orchestration platform with visual, YAML, event-driven, and self-hosted options.
- Visual workflow builder
- Human approvals
- Automatic retries
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Kestra -
Best forBusiness process automation with visual BPMN
A visual BPMN platform for designing, running, and governing complex business processes.
- Visual workflow builder
- Human approvals
- Event triggers
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Bonita -
Best forBPM, case management, and AI orchestration
A broad BPM, case management, rules, and AI orchestration platform with self-hosting options.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Flowable -
Best forPolyglot durable workflow orchestration
A broad, code-friendly orchestrator for durable workflows across multiple languages.
- Human approvals
- Automatic retries
- Event triggers
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Conductor -
Best forPython-first flexible orchestration
A flexible Python-first orchestrator with strong observability and a $100 monthly entry point.
- Human approvals
- Automatic retries
- Event triggers
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Prefect -
Best forData asset and pipeline orchestration
A focused orchestration platform for asset-aware data engineering teams.
- Automatic retries
- Event triggers
- Execution observability
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Dagster -
Best forDeveloper-friendly hybrid automation
A flexible hybrid automation platform with strong developer tooling and self-hosting.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Windmill -
Best forHybrid IT and workload automation
A broad enterprise platform for coordinating workloads, infrastructure, data, and file transfers.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Stonebranch
AWS Step Functions Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to AWS Step Functions?
Apache Airflow: #2 in our Workflow Orchestration Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A mature self-hosted choice for teams building Python-based data workflows.
Is there a free alternative to AWS Step Functions?
Yes. Apache Airflow, jBPM, Camunda, Apache DolphinScheduler and Google Cloud Workflows have a free plan or a free tier (13 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to AWS Step Functions?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Dagster starts lowest, at $10/mo.
Why do people look for AWS Step Functions alternatives?
Cloud deployment model limits use outside AWS-hosted environments; Standard Workflows charge for state transitions, including retries; Express Workflows target executions lasting up to five minutes.
How do I switch from AWS Step Functions?
Export your data from AWS Step Functions (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel AWS Step Functions.
How to Switch from AWS Step Functions
- Export your data from AWS Step Functions (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel AWS Step Functions.
AWS Step Functions vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Visual workflow builder | Event triggers | Automatic retries | Execution observability | Deployment model | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Step Functions | Yes | $1/unit usage-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cloud | 9.3 |
| 1 | Apache Airflow | Yes | Free | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Self-hosted | 9.2 |
| 2 | BMC Control-M | No | $2,400/mo | Hybrid | 9.1 | ||||
| 3 | jBPM | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Self-hosted | 9.0 | |
| 4 | Camunda | Yes | 8.9 | ||||||
| 5 | Apache DolphinScheduler | Free | Yes | Yes | Self-hosted | 8.9 | |||
| 6 | Google Cloud Workflows | Yes | $0.01/unit/mo | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cloud | 8.9 |
| 7 | Temporal | Yes | $500/mo | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 8.8 |
| 8 | Kestra | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 8.7 |
| 9 | Bonita | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 8.6 | ||
| 10 | Flowable | Yes | 8.5 | ||||||
| 11 | Conductor | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Self-hosted | 8.4 | |
| 12 | Prefect | Yes | $100/mo | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 8.3 |
| 13 | Dagster | Yes | $10/mo | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Hybrid | 8.2 |
| 14 | Windmill | Yes | $120/mo | 8.1 | |||||
| 15 | Stonebranch Universal Automation Center | Hybrid | 8.0 |
Head-to-Head
- AWS Step Functions vs Apache Airflow
- AWS Step Functions vs BMC Control-M
- AWS Step Functions vs jBPM
- AWS Step Functions vs Camunda
- AWS Step Functions vs Apache DolphinScheduler
- AWS Step Functions vs Google Cloud Workflows
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update