Apache DolphinScheduler vs Rundeck (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Apache DolphinScheduler grades higher than Rundeck: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Apache DolphinScheduler grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Apache DolphinScheduler
Open-source workflow scheduler for data pipelines
Free
Which one is for you
Pick Apache DolphinScheduler if
- Fits if your team already runs batch and data jobs on its own servers
- Works for engineers who want a scheduler with workflow dependencies and an API
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't want to host software, since there's no hosted edition
- Not for you if you need paid support, as help comes from GitHub issues and mailing lists
- Too light on hand-holding for non-technical people: it's aimed at data and batch work, not no-code app automation
- Watch out: the project's main page is a docs site, so we read little beyond the listing
Pick Rundeck if
- Fits if your ops team runs scripts across many servers and wants a job log
- Works for small teams that can host the free Community edition
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you need single sign-on or high availability, since those aren't in Community
- Skip it if you don't want to host it, as Community is self-hosted
- Watch out: commercial pricing isn't published; a PagerDuty Runbook Automation licence is bought through sales
- Watch out: a free trial of the commercial product is offered, but its length isn't stated
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAApache DolphinSchedulerFair | 2.2GPARundeckFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$0 under an Apache 2 licence, but it's software you host yourself, which needs a server. That puts it in the middle. | CCommunity is free but self-hosted. The commercial editions are quoted through sales, so there's no price to set against the category. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree software with no paid tier at all. It costs nothing but the machines you run it on. | BCommunity is free, open source and covers workflows, scheduling, key storage and a job log. You host it yourself. |
| Features | BDrag-and-drop workflows, a Python SDK, an open API, versioning, many task types and multi-tenancy. The core job is covered. | CWorkflow execution, scheduling, plugins, key storage and runners. Single sign-on, high availability and enterprise support aren't in the free edition. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record. You install and operate the platform yourself. | DNo store rating on record. You install it on your own servers, and Community needs registration to download. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb interface, with a Python SDK and open API, and 7 integrations. | BWeb, Windows, Linux and Mac, with 8 integrations and plugins. |
| Best for | scheduling data workflows you host yourself | running ops jobs and runbooks on a schedule |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Apache DolphinScheduler and Rundeck. How we grade
Where they differ
In commonFree planWebOpen sourceSelf-hostableWorkflow automationJob scheduling
At a glance
| Apache DolphinScheduler | Rundeck | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | Not published |
| Free plan | None | Rundeck Community is free, open source software with workflow execution, scheduling, key storage and a job activity log. |
| Free trial | None listed | Free trial of the commercial product offered; length not stated |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | The Apache Software Foundation | PagerDuty, Inc. |
| Price read from | github.com | rundeck.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Apache DolphinScheduler
- It is self-hosted software with no hosted edition listed on the project pages, so your team installs and runs it.
- The project page is a documentation site; support comes through GitHub issues and mailing lists, not a paid plan.
- It is aimed at data and batch workflows, not at no-code app-to-app automation for non-technical users.
Rundeck
- Single sign-on, high-availability clusters and enterprise support are not in the free Community edition.
- Commercial pricing is not published; the downloads page says a license for PagerDuty Runbook Automation is bought through sales.
- Community is self-hosted and needs a registration step before download.
Key features
Apache DolphinScheduler
- Drag-and-drop workflow editor
- Workflows are created and managed in a web interface by drag and drop, with a tree view that shows how tasks depend on each other.
- Python SDK and open API
- Besides the web interface, workflows can be defined with a Python SDK or managed through the project's open API.
- Multi-master, multi-worker design
- The architecture is decentralized with several masters and workers, and the project says it scales horizontally.
- Versioning and state control
- Workflows and individual workflow instances are versioned, and runs can be paused, stopped, recovered or backfilled from the web interface.
- Built-in task types and data sources
- A range of task types ships with the product, and data sources such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Hive and Trino can be connected.
- Multi-tenancy and permissions
- The project lists multi-tenancy and permission control by project and data source.
Rundeck
- Workflow execution
- Jobs chain scripts, tools, APIs and system commands into standard procedures such as provisioning, software updates and configuration changes.
- Job scheduling
- Scheduled and self-service jobs for daily reports, file transfers and other periodic work, as an alternative to maintaining cron or Windows Task Scheduler.
- Job activity log
- Execution history for commands and jobs shows when each ran, its log output and duration, which supports auditing.
- Plugins
- Community plugins connect Rundeck to infrastructure and tools, and teams can write their own. Certified enterprise plugins come with the commercial editions.
- Key storage and encryption
- The Community edition includes key and password encryption and a key storage facility.
- High availability and runners
- The commercial editions add clusters with automatic takeover, failed-job resume, node health checks and the next-generation runner for remote environments.
Plans
Apache DolphinScheduler
Open source$0
Apache 2 licensed software you host yourself. The project lists no paid plans or hosted service.
Rundeck
Rundeck Community$0
Free open-source edition you host yourself, for small teams; registration is needed to download.
Runbook Automation Self HostedCustom
Commercial edition you host, with high availability, enterprise support and certified plugins. License sold through sales.
Runbook AutomationCustom
PagerDuty-hosted edition with a stated 99.9% availability SLA, single sign-on and managed security patching.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Apache DolphinScheduler or Rundeck?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Apache DolphinScheduler is free, and Rundeck publishes no starting price.
Which has a free plan, Apache DolphinScheduler or Rundeck?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Apache DolphinScheduler and Rundeck have a free plan.
Which platforms do Apache DolphinScheduler and Rundeck run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Rundeck lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.