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Kestra

kestra.io

Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 9.1 #7 of 113 in Integration Platform as a Service Software

What it is

Kestra is a declarative orchestration platform for building, running, and governing workflows across an organization. Workflows, called flows, are defined in YAML and can combine tasks, dependencies, conditions, triggers, and runtime parameters. Execution controls include retries, failure policies, timeouts, concurrency limits, worker assignment, and log capture. Kestra advertises more than 2,000 plugins for connecting to external tools, with examples including Airbyte, AWS, Azure, BigQuery, dbt, Docker, GitHub, Kafka, Kubernetes, Slack, Snowflake, and Terraform. A flow can orchestrate SQL, Python, shell, APIs, Terraform, dbt, Spark, and custom tools. The platform includes an MCP server for AI agents and supports exposing flows as callable tools. Teams can self-host with Docker or Kubernetes; Enterprise Edition also supports cloud, on-premises, and air-gapped environments. Setup instructions cover macOS, Windows, and Linux, alongside web and API platforms. Kestra Cloud advertises up to two months free during team setup. The Open Source and Enterprise Edition plans have no price listed.

Spec sheet

What it does
Kestra is an open-source orchestration platform for scheduled and event-driven data, AI, infrastructure and business workflows.Read 19 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Product
Kestra is a declarative orchestration platform for building, running and governing workflows across an organization.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Deployment
Kestra can be self-hosted with Docker or Kubernetes, and Enterprise Edition also supports cloud, on-premises and air-gapped environments.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Integrations
The plugin catalog covers databases, warehouses, queues, cloud services, CI/CD and security tools, with more than 2,200 plugins advertised on the features page.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Security
Kestra Cloud advertises SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 and GDPR status through its linked Trust Center.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Support
Enterprise Edition includes a customer success program and enterprise support with an SLA.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Maker
The product site identifies the maker as Kestra and describes the platform as released under the Apache 2.0 license.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Adoption claim
Kestra's Series A announcement says more than 30,000 organizations used the platform and more than 2 billion workflows were executed in 2025.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
AI capabilities
Kestra 2.0 adds AI Copilot, AI agents, RAG workflows, MCP server support and MCP tool triggers.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
AI workflows
The platform includes an MCP server for AI agents and supports exposing flows as tools for agents to call.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
API authentication
API requests can use bearer tokens created for users or service accounts, with token secrets stored only as salted SHA-512 hashes.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
API-first design
Workflow creation, execution, inspection and administration are available through HTTP APIs, with Terraform integration and CLI management through kestractl.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Cloud deployment differences
Kestra Cloud is managed on PostgreSQL JDBC with managed worker pools, while Enterprise permits multiple queue backends, private networking and customizable storage.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Cloud trial
Kestra Cloud advertises up to two months free with full access while a team gets set up.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Company founded
LinkedIn lists Kestra as founded in 2022.Read 19 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company legal name
Crunchbase lists the legal name as Kestra Technologies and founders Emmanuel Darras and Ludovic Dehon.Read 19 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Company size and headquarters
LinkedIn lists 51–200 employees and New York headquarters, with an additional Paris location.Read 19 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Declarative workflows
Workflows are defined in YAML with tasks, dependencies, conditions, triggers and runtime parameters.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Deployment model
hybridRead 20 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Docker support
Official images support linux/amd64 and linux/arm64 and are based on Eclipse Temurin 21 JRE.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Documentation depth
The documentation includes installation guides, configuration references, security hardening, migration guides, release notes and an API reference.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Enterprise access controls
Enterprise features include SSO, audit logs, secret manager integration, end-to-end encryption, SCIM sync, multi-tenancy and role-based access control.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Enterprise governance
Enterprise adds SSO, LDAP, SCIM, RBAC, policies, promotion workflows, audit logs, cases, multi-tenancy and storage isolation.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Examples
The integrations page lists tools including Airbyte, AWS, Azure, BigQuery, dbt, Docker, GitHub, Kafka, Kubernetes, Slack, Snowflake and Terraform.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Execution controls
The platform provides retries, failure policies, timeouts, concurrency limits, worker assignment, log capture and conditional error handling.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Funding
Kestra announced an $8 million seed round on September 23, 2024, led by Alven with ISAI and Axeleo.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Funding: Series A
Kestra announced a $25 million Series A on March 31, 2026 led by RTP Global, bringing stated total funding to $36 million.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Languages
Kestra can orchestrate SQL, Python, shell, APIs, Terraform, dbt, Spark and custom tools in the same workflows.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Latest release
Release notes show Kestra v2.0.6 published on October 13, 2026 with 18 bug fixes and two changes.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Licence
The open-source repository is licensed under Apache License 2.0.Read 19 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: API controls
Anchor Terminal reports no API rate limits or idempotency key and says callers must implement correlation safeguards in flows.Read 19 Oct 2026 · anchorterminal.com
Limit: documentation examples
G2 reviewers request more real-world AI, multi-agent, integration and architecture examples.Read 19 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: learning curve
G2 reviewers report that YAML, Pebble expressions, task-output references and advanced templating take time to learn.Read 19 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: price transparency
TrustRadius says Kestra has no listed pricing plans and no free version or trial, while Kestra's own site presents Open Source as free and paid editions as sales-led.Read 19 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Limit: security history
Anchor Terminal reports five critical security advisories between March and September 2026, including unauthenticated remote-code-execution and authentication-bypass issues, all marked fixed.Read 19 Oct 2026 · anchorterminal.com
Limit: upgrade complexity
The independent HysenLabs review says frequent releases require keeping up with upgrades and recommends staging tests before committing to new versions.Read 19 Oct 2026 · hysenlabs.com
Major release
Kestra 2.0.0 was published September 7, 2026 and introduced AI-native orchestration, redesigned governance and infrastructure changes.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Observability
Each execution exposes task status, logs, outputs, timing, metrics, a timeline and live workflow topology in the UI.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Operating systems
The getting-started page provides setup instructions for macOS, Windows and Linux.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Plugin ecosystem
The integrations catalog lists more than 2,300 plugins and provides an SDK for building custom plugins.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Praise: observability
G2 reviewers repeatedly praise execution visibility, DAG/topology views, logs, retries and faster debugging than custom scripts.Read 19 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: setup and integrations
G2 reviewers describe Docker onboarding as smooth and REST/API and AI workflow integrations as straightforward.Read 19 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on G2
4.6 out of 5 from 24 reviewsRead 19 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp
0 out of 5 from 0 reviewsRead 19 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Scheduling
Scheduling supports intervals, cron expressions, condition-based schedules, event triggers, HTTP triggers, webhooks and backfills.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Script execution
Kestra runs existing Python, R, Node.js, Rust, Go, shell, SQL, Terraform, dbt, Spark and custom-tool logic without requiring a specific runtime or SDK.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
SDKs
Kestra states that it is expanding SDK support in popular programming languages and already provides Terraform integration.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Security architecture
In Kestra 2.0 workers do not connect directly to the database; they use outbound gRPC streams to a worker controller.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Security limitation
The gRPC worker channel is plaintext and unauthenticated by default and must be secured before use across untrusted networks.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Self-hosting
Kestra can run on a laptop, VM, Kubernetes, public cloud, on-premises infrastructure or an air-gapped environment.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
System requirements
The installation documentation specifies at least 2 vCPUs and 4 GiB of memory for correct operation.Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Workflow definition
Flows are defined in YAML and support tasks, dependencies, conditions, triggers and runtime parameters.Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io

Plans and prices

Open Source Free Declarative workflows · 2,300+ plugins · event-driven scheduling · any-language business logic · code/no-code editors · MCP server · PostgreSQL/MySQL queues · unlimited flows and executions Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Enterprise Edition Priced on request Annual subscription, per instance Unlimited flows/tasks/executions · SSO/LDAP/SCIM · RBAC · audit logs · multi-tenancy · worker groups · task runners · secrets manager · enterprise plugins · AI Copilot · SLA support · cloud/on-prem/air-gapped deployment Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io
Kestra Cloud Priced on request Pricing not stated; request access Fully managed hosting, upgrades, monitoring and scaling · usage-based · up to 2 months free Read 30 Sep 2026 · kestra.io
Kestra Cloud Priced on request Usage-based; request access Managed hosting, upgrades and monitoring · automatic scaling · built-in security/governance · enterprise plugins · guided onboarding · SOC2 compliant Read 19 Oct 2026 · kestra.io

Every Kestra plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Flows combine tasks, conditions, triggers, and parameters.
  • Execution controls include retries and timeouts.
  • Advertises more than 2,000 plugins.
  • Can orchestrate multiple languages and tools in one workflow.
  • Cloud trial offers up to two months free.

Limits

  • Open Source plan price is not listed.
  • Enterprise Edition price is not listed.
  • Kestra Cloud price is not listed.

Who it suits

Kestra suits teams coordinating workflows across services, languages, and environments. It offers self-hosting for technical teams and broader cloud, on-premises, or air-gapped deployment options in Enterprise Edition.

Kestra in depth

Read the full write-up

Kestra is a workflow orchestration platform for coordinating jobs and services across an organization. It best suits technical teams comfortable defining workflows in YAML, especially those working across tools and runtimes. Its combination of execution controls and deployment flexibility is compelling, but teams seeking a published price or mostly visual workflow authoring may prefer another option.

Overview

Kestra organizes work into flows: YAML definitions that express tasks, dependencies, conditions, triggers and runtime parameters. Teams can use it to coordinate SQL, Python, shell commands, APIs, Terraform, dbt, Spark and custom tools within the same workflows. A visual builder is also available, but YAML remains central to how flows are defined.

Key features

Workflow control

Retries, failure policies, timeouts, concurrency limits, worker assignment and log capture give operators practical control over execution and failure handling. Event triggers, execution observability and human approvals add support for event-driven and reviewable processes. That breadth suits workflows with operational consequences; teams needing only a basic sequence of scheduled steps may not need this level of control.

Integrations and AI workflows

Kestra advertises more than 2,000 plugins, with examples including Airbyte, AWS, Azure, BigQuery, dbt, Docker, GitHub, Kafka, Kubernetes, Slack, Snowflake and Terraform. The range is useful for teams connecting varied systems, while the ability to orchestrate several languages and tools can reduce the need to split work across separate workflow systems. An MCP server and the option to expose flows as tools give AI agents a way to call workflows.

Deployment and governance

Teams can self-host Kestra with Docker or Kubernetes, or choose managed Kestra Cloud. Enterprise Edition supports cloud, on-premises and air-gapped deployment. Enterprise access controls include SSO, audit logs, secret manager integration, end-to-end encryption, SCIM sync, multi-tenancy and role-based access control; its customer success program and support with an SLA are aimed at organizations that need formal operational support.

Pricing

Kestra offers Open Source, Kestra Cloud and Enterprise Edition, with custom pricing for plans whose prices are not provided. The open-source plan includes declarative workflows, 1,200+ plugins, event-driven scheduling, and unlimited flows and executions. That makes it the clearest starting point for teams prepared to self-host, but it does not include the managed hosting and governance package described for Cloud.

Kestra Cloud is fully managed, automatically scales, and includes security and governance features, SOC 2 compliance and a pay-as-you-scale model. Its trial offers up to two months free with full access while a team gets set up. This is the natural option for teams that want managed infrastructure, though ongoing cost depends on usage and pricing is custom.

Enterprise Edition is the fit for organizations needing SSO, audit logs, custom RBAC, multiple tenants, worker groups and task runners, or cloud, on-premises and air-gapped deployment. It also includes enterprise support with an SLA and a customer success program. Choose it for those governance and deployment requirements rather than assuming the open-source plan covers them.

Platforms

Kestra supports API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web and Windows. Setup instructions cover macOS, Windows and Linux, and self-hosting is supported through Docker or Kubernetes. Its hybrid deployment model gives teams a choice between operating it themselves and using Kestra Cloud. Kestra Cloud advertises SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 and GDPR status through its Trust Center.

Who it's for

Kestra is a strong fit for engineering, data and operations teams that need to coordinate work across tools, languages and deployment environments. YAML definitions and detailed execution controls favor teams willing to work with structured workflow logic. Organizations that prioritize managed operations can consider Cloud; teams with strict access, tenancy or air-gap requirements should look at Enterprise Edition. It is less suitable for buyers who need clear fixed pricing before evaluating a plan or want workflow creation to be entirely visual.

Pros and cons

Pro: YAML flows can combine tasks, conditions, triggers and runtime parameters across multiple languages and tools, making it suited to cross-system workflows.

Pro: Retries, failure policies, timeouts, concurrency controls, worker assignment and logs provide substantial execution oversight.

Pro: Self-hosted, managed cloud and enterprise deployment options accommodate different infrastructure and governance needs.

Con: YAML-centered workflow definitions are a poor fit for teams that want to author flows only through a visual interface.

Con: Custom pricing across the plans makes cost comparison harder before discussing a team's deployment and usage needs.

Alternatives

For readers comparing adjacent categories, browse Integration Platform as a Service Software, IT Orchestration Software, DataOps Platforms, Workflow Orchestration Software and Workload Automation Software.

Make is worth considering when a freemium option with a stated monthly allowance is preferable: its free plan includes 1,000 credits per month, two active scenarios and a 15-minute minimum interval.

Skyvia may suit teams looking for a free plan centered on scheduled integrations, with 10,000 records per month, two scheduled integrations, once-a-day scheduling and 30-day schedule expiration.

Celigo is an alternative for teams whose needs fit a free plan capped at two endpoints, one flow and one production environment.

Pabbly Connect may fit a smaller automation workload: its free plan includes 100 tasks per month and unlimited workflows.

Albato offers a free plan with 100 transactions, five active automations, two steps per automation and seven-day log storage, which may suit teams with modest automation needs.

ByteChef is another option if a stated entry price and self-hosted support matter: its Starter plan is $23 a month, billed monthly, with 5,000 tasks per month, one internal user, one workspace and seven-day log retention.

Latenode may suit teams willing to work within usage caps on a free plan, including 10,000 CPU seconds per month, five active workflows and one parallel execution.

Workato Agentic is another alternative to compare.

Verdict

Choose Kestra if your team needs to orchestrate work across languages and systems while retaining close control over execution and deployment. Its broad integrations, runtime controls and hybrid options are the case for it. Look elsewhere if published plan prices or a primarily visual authoring approach are essential to your decision.

Verdict

Kestra combines YAML-defined workflows with execution controls and broad integration options. The plans cover open-source, managed cloud, and enterprise deployments, but listed prices are not provided.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to KestraAll alternatives →

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