Fair-code workflow automation platform with 400+ nodes and native AI agents
Top open-source alternative to Zapier
Kestra is an infinitely scalable open-source orchestration and automation platform. Define workflows in declarative YAML alongside visual topology graphs, with 500+ plugins for databases, cloud APIs, and webhooks.
Tech StackJava, Micronaut, Vue.js, PostgreSQL
Self-Host DifficultyEasy
License ModelApache-2.0
GitHub Repositorykestra-io/kestra
Recommended VPS & Hardware Sizing
Estimated Hosting: $4 - $6/mo (e.g. Hetzner CX22 or DigitalOcean)Min RAM:1 GB
Rec RAM:2 GB
Compute:1 vCPU
Disk Space:10 GB SSD
Kestra vs Zapier Comparison Matrix
| Evaluation Criteria | Kestra (Open Source) | Zapier (Proprietary) |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription Model | 100% Free Self-Hosted (Unlimited Users) | Zapier Per-Seat / Usage Billing |
| Data Sovereignty | 100% On-Premise / Your Own VPS | Stored on Zapier Proprietary Cloud |
| Source Code Audit | Open-Source (Apache-2.0) | Closed-Source Proprietary Blackbox |
INTERACTIVE TCO MODELEstimated Rate: $65/user/mo
Financial Impact: Migrating from Zapier to Self-Hosted Kestra
5 Users (Early Startup)50 Users (Scaleup)200 Users (Enterprise Org)
Zapier (Cloud SaaS)Per-Seat Tax
$19,500per year ($1,625/mo)
3-Year Spend:$58,500
* Excludes enterprise SSO add-ons & usage overages
Kestra (Self-Hosted)Zero Per-Seat Fee
$120per year ($10/mo Linux VPS)
3-Year Compute:$360
* Commodity Hetzner / DigitalOcean compute instance
Cumulative 3-Year ROI+$58,140Net savings across 36 months (99% reduction)
Annual Free Cash:+$19,380/yr
Need C-Level Buy-In? Generate an instant ROI proposal memo to present to your CTO or CFO.
HEAD-TO-HEAD BATTLES // SIDE-BY-SIDE AUDIT
Custom Comparison Engine →Compare Kestra Head-to-Head
★ PRIMARY REPLACEMENTFOSS vs SaaS
Comprehensive benchmark comparing Kestra against proprietary Zapier licensing and features.
View Full Battle Report→
WorkflowPEER BENCHMARK
Advanced Node Flow Engine vs Lightweight TypeScript Integration Builder
Inspect Comparison→
WorkflowPEER BENCHMARK
Unlimited VPS Executions vs Steep Per-Task Pricing Tiers
Inspect Comparison→
WorkflowPEER BENCHMARK
Declarative Code-as-Config YAML Workflows vs Interactive Visual Node Canvas
Inspect Comparison→
Core Capabilities & Features
✓Declarative YAML + Live Visual Editor
✓500+ Official Integration Plugins
✓Event-Driven & Real-Time Webhook Triggers
✓Permissive Apache-2.0 License
Self-Host Kestra with Docker Compose
Tweak configuration ports, secrets, and volumes live. Download or copy your ready-to-run container file:
1-Click Docker Compose Generator
Generate production-ready container definitions with customizable ports and volumes.
KestraApache-2.0
Event-driven declarative orchestration and workflow automation platform
Difficulty: Easy29,528 ⭐
Configure Parameters
docker-compose.kestra.yml
version: "3.8"
services:
kestra:
image: kestra/kestra:latest
container_name: kestra
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "${PORT:-8080}:8080"
environment:
APP_URL: "${APP_URL:-http://localhost:8080}"
SECRET_KEY: "${SECRET_KEY:-ossmatrix_prod_secret_2026}"
volumes:
- kestra_data:/data
volumes:
kestra_data:Frequently Asked Questions: Self-Hosting Kestra
How do I self-host Kestra using Docker Compose?
You can deploy Kestra (kestra-io/kestra) on any Linux server by copying the docker-compose.yml template on this page, configuring your desired host port and persistent volume directory, and running 'docker compose up -d'.
How does Kestra compare to Zapier?
Kestra is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to Zapier built with Java, Micronaut, Vue.js, PostgreSQL. Unlike Zapier ($29.99 - $100+ / month), Kestra has zero per-user licensing fees and keeps 100% of your data on your own infrastructure.
What are the minimum VPS RAM and CPU requirements for Kestra?
For production self-hosting (Easy difficulty tier), we recommend at least 2 GB RAM (minimum 1 GB), 1 vCPU, and 10 GB SSD storage, which typically costs $4 - $6/mo (e.g. Hetzner CX22 or DigitalOcean).
Is Kestra free for commercial business use under the Apache-2.0 license?
Yes. Distributed under the Apache-2.0 license, Kestra can be self-hosted internally by businesses and engineering teams of any size without per-seat royalties.
README INTEGRATION // REPO EMBED
Embed Official Kestra Badge in GitHub README
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