Kestra

Self-Hosted

Open-source workflow orchestration & automation platform

Overview

Kestra is an extensible, event-driven workflow automation tool for data pipelines, ETL, and task scheduling. It uses declarative YAML for workflows, supports real-time monitoring, and integrates with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud services. Deployable via Docker Compose, Kubernetes, or binary, it offers scalable execution, version-controlled workflows, and a user-friendly UI. Ideal for teams needing self-hosted, flexible automation without vendor lock-in.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  kestra:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: kestra
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Declarative YAML workflow definitions
Event-driven triggers (schedules, webhooks, file events)
Real-time monitoring & logging dashboard
Extensible plugin ecosystem for cloud/tool integrations

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Kestra hard to install?

Kestra is easy to start with Docker Compose (single command for testing). Production deployments support Kubernetes or binary, with clear official docs guiding all options—even users with basic Docker skills can set it up quickly.

? Is it a good alternative to AWS Step Functions?

Yes—Kestra avoids cloud vendor lock-in via self-hosting while offering similar orchestration features (event triggers, parallel execution). It’s more cost-effective for teams preferring on-prem/private cloud over AWS’s pay-as-you-go model.

? Is it completely free?

Yes—Kestra is open source under Apache 2.0, so all core features are free to use, modify, and self-host. Enterprise support is available for commercial users, but no licensing fees apply to the open-source version.

Top Alternatives

AWS Step Functions Search Google

Azure Logic Apps Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Automation

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (self-hosted)
⊕ No subscription fees
⊕ Scalable distributed execution
⊕ Flexible integration with popular tools

Cons

⊖ Requires basic Docker/Kubernetes knowledge for setup
⊖ Steeper learning curve for complex workflows
⊖ Limited third-party tutorials compared to SaaS tools