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Databases · head to head

Apache Airflow vs Hasura

Apache Airflow logo

Apache Airflow

Databases

Programmatically author, schedule and monitor data workflows in Python

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hasura logo

Hasura

APIs

GraphQL engine that instantly creates production-ready GraphQL API from databases

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apache Airflow self-hosting is genuinely heavy: scheduler, metadata database, workers and executor choice are a standing operational job; Hasura active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
  • They diverge on capability: Apache Airflow covers Pipelines as Python, Hasura covers GraphQL API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apache Airflow and Hasura actually diverge.

Attributes where Apache Airflow and Hasura differ
AttributeApache AirflowHasura
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence fee; managed services billed separatelyfreemium
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hostedWeb
CategoryDatabasesAPIs
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apache Airflow

  • Pipelines as Python
  • Web UI
  • Cloud provider packages
  • Jinja templating
  • Retries and dependencies
  • Extensible operators

Only in Hasura

  • GraphQL API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Access control
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • Webhooks
  • REST APIs
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apache Airflow

  • Scheduling nightly ETL where step order and retries matternot Hasura
  • Coordinating machine learning training and evaluation runsnot Hasura
  • Orchestrating dbt runs alongside extraction and loadingnot Hasura
  • Replacing a sprawl of cron jobs with dependencies and visible run historynot Hasura

Hasura

  • Automatic GraphQL API generation from existing databasesnot Apache Airflow
  • Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot Apache Airflow
  • Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot Apache Airflow
  • Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot Apache Airflow

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apache Airflow

  • Self-hosting is genuinely heavy: scheduler, metadata database, workers and executor choice are a standing operational job
  • Built for scheduled batch work, and a poor fit for event-driven or sub-minute latency pipelines
  • Because DAGs are Python that the scheduler parses continuously, expensive top-level code in a DAG file slows the whole scheduler
  • Local development and testing of DAGs is awkward compared with newer orchestrators designed with it in mind

Hasura

  • Active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
  • Private DDN requires Base or Advanced plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Apache Airflow

Free
  • Apache AirflowFree
    • Full scheduler and web UI
    • All provider packages
    • No task or DAG limits

Hasura

Free
  • DDN FreeFree
    • Unlimited models
    • 1 supergraph developer
    • 15-minute observability retention
  • DDN Base$5/month
    • Per active model billing
    • Unlimited developers
    • 30-day observability retention
  • DDN Advanced$30/month
    • Per active model billing
    • Federated collaboration
    • Multi-repo CI/CD

Which should you pick?

Choose Apache Airflow if

  • You need pipelines as python.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
  • You also want web ui.
Apache Airflow review

Choose Hasura if

  • You need graphql api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
Hasura review

Questions people ask

Is Apache Airflow or Hasura better?
Neither clearly leads. Apache Airflow starts at Free and Hasura at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apache Airflow or Hasura?
Apache Airflow starts at Free and Hasura at Free.
Does Apache Airflow or Hasura run on more platforms?
Apache Airflow runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted. Hasura runs on Web.
Can I use Apache Airflow for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apache Airflow best used for?
Apache Airflow is most often used for scheduling nightly etl where step order and retries matter, coordinating machine learning training and evaluation runs, orchestrating dbt runs alongside extraction and loading, replacing a sprawl of cron jobs with dependencies and visible run history. Of those, scheduling nightly etl where step order and retries matter and coordinating machine learning training and evaluation runs are not what Hasura is typically brought in for.
What can Apache Airflow do that Hasura cannot?
Apache Airflow covers Pipelines as Python, Web UI, Cloud provider packages, Jinja templating. Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apache Airflow: Is Apache Airflow free?

Yes. Airflow is open source under the Apache Software Foundation with no licence fee. Costs are the infrastructure to run it, or a managed service such as Google Cloud Composer or Amazon MWAA.

Hasura: How much does Hasura cost?

Hasura DDN Free is free. DDN Base starts at $5/active model/month, and DDN Advanced starts at $30/active model/month.

Source
Apache Airflow: What language are Airflow workflows written in?

Python. A workflow is a Python file, so standard language features including loops and datetime handling can generate tasks dynamically, with no XML or command-line configuration.

Hasura: What is an active model in Hasura pricing?

An active model is defined as any model or command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly.

Source
Apache Airflow: Is Airflow suitable for real-time pipelines?

Not really. Airflow is designed for scheduled batch orchestration. Event-driven or sub-minute work is better served by a streaming platform such as Kafka or a purpose-built streaming engine.

Hasura: Is there a free version of Hasura?

Yes, Hasura DDN Free is always free and includes unlimited models, 1 supergraph developer, and 15-minute observability retention.

Source
Apache Airflow: What are the main alternatives to Airflow?

Dagster and Prefect are the two most commonly weighed against it, both newer and both designed around the local development and testing experience Airflow is criticised for.

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