The Apache DolphinScheduler Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Apache DolphinScheduler in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Apache DolphinScheduler
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source workflow scheduler for data pipelines
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among automation tools, read from Apache DolphinScheduler’s own pages.
Made by The Apache Software Foundation · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Apache DolphinScheduler’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Apache DolphinScheduler’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 90 of the 134 other automation tools we grade
Apache DolphinScheduler is an open-source data orchestration platform for building and running workflows with complex task dependencies. Workflows are drawn in a web interface or defined through a Python SDK or an open API, and it can be deployed standalone, on a cluster, in Docker or on Kubernetes.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Apache DolphinScheduler, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install and operate the platform yourself.
- 1
Best for scheduling data workflows you host yourself
It's free, but you install and run it yourself, there's no hosted edition, and help comes from GitHub and mailing lists.
- 2
It is free
Apache DolphinScheduler has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
Multi-master, multi-worker design
The architecture is decentralized with several masters and workers, and the project says it scales horizontally.
- 7
A 2.4 GPA, above 90 of 134
That is against the other automation tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Apache DolphinScheduler is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Apache DolphinScheduler at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Category
- Automation
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for scheduling data workflows you host yourself
Apache DolphinScheduler is an open-source workflow scheduler for data jobs, with a drag-and-drop editor, a Python SDK and a multi-master design. It's free, but you install and run it yourself, there's no hosted edition, and help comes from GitHub and mailing lists.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free software with no paid tier at all. It costs nothing but the machines you run it on. |
| Features | B | Drag-and-drop workflows, a Python SDK, an open API, versioning, many task types and multi-tenancy. The core job is covered. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. You install and operate the platform yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web interface, with a Python SDK and open API, and 7 integrations. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Apache DolphinScheduler is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Data engineering teams running dependent batch pipelines
- Teams that want a scheduler they host on their own servers or Kubernetes
- Organizations that need multi-tenant workflow management
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Apache DolphinScheduler is free to use.
It costs nothing but the machines you run it on.
Open source
$0
Apache 2 licensed software you host yourself. The project lists no paid plans or hosted service.
Read from github.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Open-source workflow scheduler for data pipelines. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, public API, workflow automation, job scheduling.
Drag-and-drop workflows, a Python SDK, an open API, versioning, many task types and multi-tenancy.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- Hive
- Trino
- Kubernetes
- Docker
- Terraform
Apache DolphinScheduler is made by The Apache Software Foundation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
90/134
Other automation tools it is graded above
Apache DolphinScheduler's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 90 of the 134 other automation tools we grade, and level with 23.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 100 of 134) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Apache DolphinScheduler has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 135 automation tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Apache DolphinScheduler’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 22 of 134
- BFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 134
- BFeaturesAbove 86 of 134
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 134
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 39 of 134
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 80 automation tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Apache DolphinScheduler is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Apache DolphinScheduler is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.4 is higher than 90 of the 134 other automation tools we grade.
What you could make
- Job scheduling: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Apache DolphinScheduler’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Apache Airflow, Dagster, Prefect, Kestra and Argo Workflows
The 5 tools Apache DolphinScheduler is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Apache Airflow
Free
Open-source platform for authoring and scheduling workflows in Python.
- Apache DolphinScheduler also covers job scheduling.
- 2.0GPA
Dagster
Free trial · from $10/mo
Asset-based data orchestration platform, now part of Prefect.
- Apache DolphinScheduler has a free plan. Dagster does not, though it has a free trial.
- Apache DolphinScheduler also covers job scheduling.
- Dagster also covers dashboards.
- 2.4GPA
Prefect
Free plan · from $100/mo
Python workflow orchestration with an open-source core and a cloud.
- Apache DolphinScheduler also covers job scheduling.
- Prefect also covers AI agents.
- 2.4GPA
Kestra
Free plan
Open-source workflow orchestration platform defined in YAML.
- Apache DolphinScheduler also covers job scheduling.
- 2.4GPA
Argo Workflows
Free
Open-source container-native workflow engine for Kubernetes.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Apache DolphinScheduler free?
Yes. Apache DolphinScheduler is free to use.
How much does Apache DolphinScheduler cost?
Apache DolphinScheduler lists one plan. Open source: $0.
What platforms does Apache DolphinScheduler work on?
Apache DolphinScheduler is available on Web.
Does Apache DolphinScheduler have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Apache DolphinScheduler is listed for Web.
Does Apache DolphinScheduler have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Apache DolphinScheduler is listed for Web.
Is Apache DolphinScheduler open source?
Yes. Apache DolphinScheduler is open source, according to its own site.
Does Apache DolphinScheduler have an API?
Yes. Apache DolphinScheduler offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Apache DolphinScheduler integrate with?
Apache DolphinScheduler's listing names MySQL, PostgreSQL, Hive, Trino, Kubernetes, Docker and Terraform.
Who makes Apache DolphinScheduler?
Apache DolphinScheduler is made by The Apache Software Foundation.
What are the alternatives to Apache DolphinScheduler?
The closest alternatives to Apache DolphinScheduler in our directory are Apache Airflow, Dagster, Prefect, Kestra and Argo Workflows.
How does Apache DolphinScheduler compare with other automation tools?
Apache DolphinScheduler's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 90 of the 134 other automation tools we grade, and level with 23.
Is Apache DolphinScheduler good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Apache DolphinScheduler C for value for money. Apache DolphinScheduler has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Apache DolphinScheduler?
Apache DolphinScheduler is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Apache DolphinScheduler’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the Apache DolphinScheduler project's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. The pricing page could not be read in full when we checked, so some grades rest on the listing alone.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by The Apache Software Foundation. Prices change, so check dolphinscheduler.apache.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Apache DolphinScheduler, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/apache-dolphinscheduler
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Apache DolphinScheduler: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/apache-dolphinscheduler
Know someone choosing between automation tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/apache-dolphinscheduler/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded automation tools after Apache DolphinScheduler, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Automation Insider's GuideEvery one of the 135 automation tools we grade, compared
- Knime Insider's GuideOpen-source visual workflows for data analysis and automation3.2 GPA
- IFTTT Insider's GuideSimple trigger-and-action automations for apps and smart devices3.0 GPA
- Node-RED Insider's GuideOpen-source, flow-based programming tool for event-driven apps3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Apache DolphinScheduler’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Apache DolphinScheduler is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by The Apache Software Foundation. Prices and plans change: check dolphinscheduler.apache.org before you buy.