Alternatives · Automation
StackStorm alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded StackStorm alternative is Tines (2.6 GPA). It's also the best free one.
StackStorm compared with 5 alternatives: Rundeck, Kestra, Tines, Apache Airflow and Argo Workflows.
StackStorm is free to use. All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| StackStormThis tool | Free | Free | Web, Linux |
| Rundeck | Free plan | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Kestra | Free plan | Yes | Web |
| Tines | Free plan | Yes | Web |
| Apache Airflow | Free | Free | Web |
| Argo Workflows | Free | Free | Web |
Price against what you get
StackStorm has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 2 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from StackStorm
Rundeck
Runbook automation and job scheduling for IT operations
- Rundeck also lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Rundeck also covers job scheduling.
Suits: Operations and DevOps teams standardizing runbooks and self-service tasks
Kestra
Open-source workflow orchestration platform defined in YAML
- Kestra lists no Linux app, which StackStorm has.
Suits: Data and platform engineers who want workflows as code
Tines
Workflow automation and AI agents for security and IT teams
- Tines lists no Linux app, which StackStorm has.
- Tines also covers templates and AI agents.
Suits: Security teams automating alert intake, triage and remediation
Apache Airflow
Open-source platform for authoring and scheduling workflows in Python
- Apache Airflow is free.
- Apache Airflow lists no Linux app, which StackStorm has.
Suits: Python-literate data teams that want full control of their orchestrator
Argo Workflows
Open-source container-native workflow engine for Kubernetes
- Argo Workflows is free.
- Argo Workflows lists no Linux app, which StackStorm has.
- Argo Workflows also covers job scheduling.
Suits: Platform and data teams that already run Kubernetes
Limits worth knowing in StackStorm
- It is self-hosted: the install docs cover Ubuntu and RHEL-compatible Linux, Docker and Kubernetes, and no hosted service is listed.
- The project lists no paid plan or vendor support; help comes from the community Slack, forums and GitHub.
- Custom sensors and actions are written as Python plugins or scripts, so it suits technical teams.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to StackStorm?
The alternatives to StackStorm in this directory are Rundeck, Kestra, Tines, Apache Airflow and Argo Workflows. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with StackStorm.
Is there a free alternative to StackStorm?
Yes. Apache Airflow and Argo Workflows are free to use. Rundeck, Kestra and Tines have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which StackStorm alternatives work on Windows?
The StackStorm listing does not include a Windows app. Rundeck lists one.
Which StackStorm alternatives work on macOS?
The StackStorm listing does not include a macOS app. Rundeck lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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