Overview
Kestra is an open-source orchestration platform with a declarative YAML approach. Unlike Python-based tools like Airflow, workflows are defined in YAML with a visual editor. It's event-driven by design, making it great for reactive data pipelines.
Key Features
- ✓ YAML Workflows: Declarative, version-controlled
- ✓ Visual Editor: Build flows without code
- ✓ Event-driven: React to events in real-time
- ✓ 400+ Plugins: Pre-built integrations
- ✓ Namespace Isolation: Multi-tenant ready
- ✓ Replay & Backfill: Easy historical runs
Pros
- 👍 Low barrier to entry (YAML)
- 👍 Visual editor is genuinely useful
- 👍 Event-driven architecture
- 👍 Active open-source development
- 👍 Good documentation
- 👍 European company (GDPR-friendly)
Cons
- 👎 Smaller community than Airflow
- 👎 Less flexible than Python-based tools
- 👎 Enterprise features require license
- 👎 Still building ecosystem
Best For
Teams who want visual workflow building or event-driven pipelines. Good for organizations with mixed technical/non-technical users.
Founded: 2022 HQ: Paris, France