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Automation Integration · head to head

Automate.io vs Dagster

Automate.io logo

Automate.io

Automation Integration

Connect and automate your cloud applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Dagster logo

Dagster

Automation Integration

Data orchestration platform with asset lineage and AI-native observability

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Automate.io no longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down; Dagster learning curve steeper than simpler task schedulers
  • They diverge on capability: Automate.io covers Multi-step automations, Dagster covers Asset-centric orchestration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Automate.io and Dagster actually diverge.

Attributes where Automate.io and Dagster differ
AttributeAutomate.ioDagster
Pricing modelusage-basedFree open-source core plus paid cloud platform
PlatformsWeb, MobileCloud, Self-hosted
Founded2014Unknown

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

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 Automate.io

  • Multi-step automations
  • Conditional logic
  • Data mapping
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Webhooks
  • API integrations
  • 500+ apps

Only in Dagster

  • Asset-centric orchestration
  • Lineage tracking
  • Data quality monitoring
  • Multi-tool integration
  • Branch deployments
  • Dagster+ AI
  • Hybrid deployment

What people use each for

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

Automate.io

  • Workflow Automationnot Dagster
  • Data Integrationnot Dagster
  • Process Automationnot Dagster
  • App Integrationnot Dagster
  • API Connectivitynot Dagster

Dagster

  • Orchestrating multi-stage data transformation pipelinesnot Automate.io
  • Tracking data lineage across transformation toolsnot Automate.io
  • Monitoring data quality and asset healthnot Automate.io
  • Coordinating dbt and Snowflake workflowsnot Automate.io

Where each one falls short

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

Automate.io

  • No longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down
  • Existing automations were not portable to Notion, so users had to rebuild elsewhere

Dagster

  • Learning curve steeper than simpler task schedulers
  • Asset-centric model requires redesigning existing task-based pipelines
  • Pricing complex with per-credit costs on top of base fee
  • Open-source version requires self-hosting infrastructure
  • Limited to data workflows; not suitable for general automation

Pricing, plan by plan

Automate.io

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 250 tasks/month
    • 2 automations
  • Starter$15/month
    • 5000 tasks/month
    • Unlimited automations
    • Email support
  • Professional$50/month
    • Unlimited tasks
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

Dagster

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Self-hosted deployment
    • Full orchestration engine
    • Community support
  • Solo$10/month
    • 1 user and 1 code location
    • Pay-as-you-go credits at $0.040 per credit
    • 1 deployment
  • Starter$100/month
    • Up to 3 users and 5 code locations
    • Better credit rate at $0.035 per credit
    • 1 deployment
  • Pro$null/custom
    • Unlimited code locations and deployments
    • Custom serverless compute pricing
    • Personalized onboarding

Which should you pick?

Choose Automate.io if

  • You need multi-step automations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want conditional logic.

Choose Dagster if

  • You need asset-centric orchestration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Self-hosted.
  • You also want lineage tracking.

Questions people ask

Is Automate.io or Dagster better?
Neither clearly leads. Automate.io starts at Free and Dagster at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Automate.io or Dagster?
Automate.io starts at Free and Dagster at Free.
Does Automate.io or Dagster run on more platforms?
Automate.io runs on Web, Mobile. Dagster runs on Cloud, Self-hosted.
Can I use Automate.io for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Automate.io best used for?
Automate.io is most often used for workflow automation, data integration, process automation, app integration. Of those, workflow automation and data integration are not what Dagster is typically brought in for.
What can Automate.io do that Dagster cannot?
Automate.io covers Multi-step automations, Conditional logic, Data mapping, Error handling. Dagster covers Asset-centric orchestration, Lineage tracking, Data quality monitoring, Multi-tool integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dagster: What does Solo plan at $10/month include?

Solo includes 1 user, 1 code location, 1 deployment, and serverless compute at $0.010/minute, with 30-day free trial.

Source
Dagster: How are credits calculated on Dagster+?

Each asset materialization and ops execution costs 1 credit. Solo plan charges $0.040 per credit; Starter reduces to $0.035 per credit.

Source
Dagster: Is Dagster open-source available for free?

Yes, Dagster open-source is free and includes the full orchestration engine for self-hosted deployment with community support.

Source
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